Bernadette Szocs: the Romanian who won Worlds doubles silver
Bernadette Szocs is a Romanian table tennis player born in Târgu Mureș in 1995, a right-handed shakehand attacker. She won singles gold at the 2023 European Games, silver in doubles at the 2025 World Championships with Sofia Polcanova, and mixed doubles at WTT Star Contender Chennai in 2026. Her career-high ranking is No. 8, in April 2024.
In this article
Bernadette Szocs is Romania's leading table tennis player in recent years and one of the most consistent Europeans on tour. She has played three Olympics, won European Games singles gold and, in 2025, brought Romania back to the world podium. This page covers Bernadette Szocs's career, titles and playing style.
Who is Bernadette Szocs
Bernadette Szocs was born on 5 March 1995 in Târgu Mureș, Romania. She is right-handed, plays the shakehand grip and has an aggressive attacking style. She is 1.59 m tall and is nicknamed "Bernie".
Bernadette Szocs's titles
| Competition | Results |
|---|---|
| Olympics | Three appearances (2016, 2020, 2024); round of 16 in singles at Paris 2024 |
| World Championships | Doubles silver in 2025; team bronze in 2026 |
| European Games | Singles and team gold, mixed doubles bronze in 2023 |
| European Championships | Doubles gold in 2022; singles and doubles silver in 2024 |
| WTT | WTT Cup Finals bronze 2024; Star Contender Chennai 2026 (mixed doubles) |
| Ranking | Career high: No. 8 (April 2024) |
Silver at the 2025 Worlds
At the 2025 World Championships in Doha, Szocs teamed up with Austria's Sofia Polcanova and reached the women's doubles final, losing 3-0 to China's Wang Manyu and Kuai Man. It was the first Worlds women's doubles final with European players since 1977 and Romania's first world medal in the event in decades. In 2026, at the World Team Championships in London, she added a team bronze with Romania.
European Games and the WTT circuit
In 2023 in Kraków, Szocs won singles and team gold at the European Games. In 2024 she took bronze at the WTT Cup Finals in Fukuoka and silver in singles and doubles at the European Championships in Linz. In 2026 she won mixed doubles at Star Contender Chennai with Eduard Ionescu, beating Harmeet Desai and Yashaswini Ghorpade 3-0 in the final. In October 2026 she is world No. 23 in singles. See the table tennis world ranking.
Playing style
- Right-handed attacker with the shakehand grip, known for powerful attacks. See playing styles.
- Very strong in doubles, with the world silver alongside Polcanova and mixed doubles with Ionescu.
- Consistency: she regularly reaches the last 16 and quarter-finals of major WTT events.
- A veteran of the European circuit, with team titles since 2017. More in European table tennis history.
Recent results on the tour
| Year | Wins | Losses |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 15 | 18 |
| Total | 15 | 18 |
| L | WTT Champions Montpellier 2026 2026-10-30 | Women's singles Round of 16 | Hayata Hina JPN vs Bernadette Szocs ROU 3-1 11-8, 11-9, 5-11, 11-6 |
| W | WTT Champions Montpellier 2026 2026-10-27 | Women's singles Round of 32 | Kim Nayeong KOR vs Bernadette Szocs ROU 0-3 7-11, 10-12, 9-11 |
| L | China Smash 2026 2026-10-08 | Women's doubles Quarterfinals | Wang Yidi / Jiang Yiyi CHN vs Bernadette Szocs / Elizabeta Samara ROU 3-0 11-9, 12-10, 11-7 |
| W | China Smash 2026 2026-10-07 | Women's doubles Round of 16 | Bernadette Szocs / Elizabeta Samara ROU vs Doo Hoi Kem / Ng Wing Lam HKG 3-2 8-11, 10-12, 11-6, 11-9, 11-6 |
| L | China Smash 2026 2026-10-07 | Mixed doubles Quarterfinals | Manush Shah / Diya Chitale IND vs Eduard Ionescu / Bernadette Szocs ROU 3-0 11-9, 13-11, 11-3 |
| L | China Smash 2026 2026-10-07 | Women's singles Round of 32 | Sabine Winter GER vs Bernadette Szocs ROU 3-1 9-11, 11-5, 11-6, 11-9 |
| W | China Smash 2026 2026-10-06 | Mixed doubles Round of 16 | Eduard Ionescu / Bernadette Szocs ROU vs Hugo Calderano / Bruna Takahashi BRA 3-2 11-9, 8-11, 11-9, 3-11, 11-8 |
| W | China Smash 2026 2026-10-05 | Women's doubles Round of 32 | Ece Harac / Sibel Altinkaya TUR vs Bernadette Szocs / Elizabeta Samara ROU 1-3 7-11, 11-9, 11-13, 11-13 |
Source: WTT official results. Updated October 31, 2026. worldtabletennis.com
Frequently asked questions
Who is Bernadette Szocs?
She is a Romanian player born in 1995, right-handed with a shakehand grip, 2025 World Championships doubles silver medallist and 2023 European Games singles champion.
Is Bernadette Szocs left-handed?
No. She is right-handed and plays the shakehand grip.
What is Bernadette Szocs's highest ranking?
World No. 8, in April 2024. In October 2026 she is No. 23.
Did Bernadette Szocs win an Olympic medal?
No. She has played three Olympics and her best result is the round of 16 in singles at Paris 2024.