More backhand, good insights: How Sreeja Akula plotted win over UTT's highest-ranked player Bernadette Szocs

Sreeja Akula beat World No. 12 Romanian to lead Jaipur Patriots to victory.

On June 5, under the bright lights of Ultimate Table Tennis Season 6, India’s top-ranked paddler Sreeja Akula, representing Jaipur Patriots pulled off the kind of win that lingers long after the final point. She beat Bernadette Szocs, the World No. #12—highest-ranked player in the league—and star import of U Mumba TT in a gripping singles encounter 2-1 (11-9, 8-11, 11-5).

For the fans in the stadium and the ones watching at home, it was electric. But for Indian table tennis, it was something even more — a moment that underlined why UTT is more than just a domestic league. It’s a proving ground.

This wasn’t just a one-off upset. This was Sreeja’s first win over Szocs in their three meetings across UTT seasons. In their previous clashes — once in 2019 and again in 2023 — Szocs had come out on top, using her superior international experience and aggressive flair to outmaneuver the young Indian.

As recently as April 2025, at the Table Tennis World Cup, Sreeja had suffered a straight-game defeat to Szocs, losing 0-4 in a match that showed the gulf in experience at the time. But something changed over the past two months — and on this UTT stage, it showed.

This time, Sreeja was ready. She read the game better, stayed calm under pressure, and took her chances with confidence that only comes from growth.

“I sat down with my team coaches and Britt (Eerland) gave me very good insights,” she said after the match. “I’ve analyzed previous matches, considered the learnings and implemented the same strategy. Britt suggested me to play more on her backhand and then seamlessly change into the forehand — and that really worked in my favour.”

Also Read: UTT 2025: Sreeja Akula stuns World No #12 Bernadette Szocs to help Jaipur Patriots defeat U Mumba

She didn’t just match Szocs — Sreeja outplayed her when it counted the most for Jaipur Patriots.

There’s something powerful about watching an Indian athlete stand across the table from a top 20 international player and not just hold their own, but win. Sreeja’s victory wasn’t loud or flashy, but it was decisive.

In the third and final game, she raced ahead with sharp placements and early picks, leaving the Romanian star searching for answers. Her footwork was crisp, her forehand fired, and above all, her mindset was locked in.

Why this win matters?

Sreeja’s win is a perfect example of why the Ultimate Table Tennis league isn’t just another tournament — it’s a catalyst. It gives Indian players what they often lack in traditional circuits: direct, repeatable exposure to the best in the world, without having to travel halfway across the globe. For someone like Sreeja, who has quietly put in the work season after season, UTT becomes the launchpad.

“The team draft creates a rush of adrenaline in the matches,” she said. “We get to play and interact with so many foreigners, and that definitely makes an impact.”

The match kicked off with Sreeja taking control early. Her footwork was sharp, her returns crisp, and she claimed the first game 11-9, feeding off the energy of her bench. Szocs, always a fighter, responded like the world-class player she is — adjusting her depth and speeding up the pace to take the second 11-8.

Also Read: Ultimate Table Tennis 2025: Top five emerging Indian players to watch in UTT Season 6

But it was the third game where Sreeja truly came alive. With ice in her veins, she broke Szocs’ rhythm completely. She pushed deeper into the backhand corner and picked her moments to switch to the forehand with perfect timing. The result: a commanding 11-5 decider that left even the U Mumba TT dugout a little stunned.

“UTT is a very good platform where we get to try out different strokes and shots — the atmosphere is different,” Sreeja reflected. “There’s a lot of pressure. This is the time we can implement different strategies.”

And implement, she did.

This win was also personal. After earlier losses to Szocs, this was Sreeja turning the tide of their rivalry. It wasn’t just about form — it was about belief. And belief is exactly what young Indian athletes watching this league need to see.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Sreeja Akula (@sreejaakula31)

A quick turnaround in mixed doubles

Sport, of course, has its way of balancing things out. Just minutes after the singles thriller, Szocs and Akash Pal returned to the table and blanked Sreeja and Kanak Jha in the mixed doubles, winning 3-0 (11-8, 11-6, 11-6). It was clinical, composed, and a small reminder of the level of experience Szocs brings to the table. While the Indian-American pair showed sparks, they couldn’t quite sync the way their opponents did.

But even with that loss, it was Sreeja’s singles success that lit up the night.

Because on nights like these, we’re reminded: UTT isn’t just a league. It’s a ladder. And Sreeja Akula just climbed one of its biggest rungs.

For more updates, follow Khel Now on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram; download the Khel Now Android App or IOS App and join our community on Whatsapp & Telegram