Källberg fell in the EC final: "Sad"

The first five sets were the advantage of Anton Källberg, who led 3–2 (11–7, 9–11, 11–13, 11–8, 11–9) and was only one set away from a thunderous gold in the Slovenian capital Ljubljana. In that case, the first Swede in singles since Peter Karlsson won in Bremen 26 years ago.

But then it was as if Félix Lebrun put in two more gears - and Källberg couldn't keep up. Lebrun first won the sixth set with 11–6 and then the seventh and deciding set with a crushing 11–1.

- It felt good, except for the last two where I basically have no chance. He serves better, I don't get out of his game after he changes serve. In my own serve I get no distribution and no pressure on him, and in the game I can't hold against his screw and his speed, says Källberg to SVT.

In the semifinals earlier on Sunday, Källberg won against the German Dang Qiu with 4–2 in a set.

The 29-year-old has previously won EC gold, Olympic silver and WC bronze - but then it was in teams.

Now he has won his first individual medal. But right after, he couldn't really be happy about it.

- Sad, of course. A gold would have been much more fun. It feels like there is a big difference between a gold and a silver, says Källberg.

He thus goes home from the European Championships with two silver medals. On Saturday there was a loss in the doubles final with Kristian Karlsson against the same Félix Lebrun and his brother Alexis.

Had Källberg been told before the EC that he would take double silver medals - yes, then he would have thought it was good, he states. But where he stood, just after another final loss, it was hard to feel that way.

- If you had asked me yesterday, I would not have been satisfied with two silver medals. Right now it's sad, it would have been so nice with a gold, says Anton Källberg.