The countdown to the 2025 European Championships in Horsens is on. We will get to see the continent’s best battle for the biggest European title next week – one of them being the temporary partnership between Dutch Robin Tabeling and Alexandra Bøje, a Horsens native.
Bøje and Tabeling are one of the most interesting pairs in the tournament. It was only a few weeks ago that they won their first title together at the YONEX German Open, and now, they’re coming to Horsens with momentum and something to prove.
An unlikely yet strong duo
The partnership between Denmark’s Bøje and the Netherlands’ Tabeling came about in October under challenging circumstances. Bøje’s regular partner, Mathias Christiansen, is serving a suspension until the end of July of this year, leaving her without a mixed doubles partner. Tabeling, one of Europe’s top mixed doubles players, stepped in.
Fast forward to March, and they went on to become German Open champions. “It was amazing, we had a really great week. We had a lot of great matches,” said Bøje after the win in Mülheim. For her, the win was the light she’d been chasing in a challenging period. “The last six months have been really, really tough. I’m just so proud of us and myself, and I’m happy. I am really, really happy.”
Tabeling agreed on the renewed sense of hope and positivity that this win brought to them as a pair. “It’s always great playing on a Sunday – even better winning it,” he said, reflecting on what was his first Super 300 title. The Dutch athlete, who has won medals at the European Championships and European Games before, added: “We showed today that we have a good level to challenge a lot of pairs.”
An achievement that means so much more
This win wasn’t just about the trophy, it was a statement and a hopeful turning point, coming off several first-round exits. “It’s just a mix of being proud of us, and being proud of myself, still going to practice every day. Just keep going and believing that it would come in the end,” Bøje shared in the mixed zone after their title win in Mülheim, after being asked on why this title win had brought such an emotional reaction out of her.
For Tabeling, this partnership is part of his farewell. “I will become a father in the summer. And besides that, I decided to stop,” he revealed. “If I wanted to keep my level like this, I had to go abroad a full year, and I didn’t want to do this anymore.”
The European Championships, then, have a deeper meaning for the pair. It is one last shot at gold for the Dutch player, and an emotional homecoming for the Dane.
All eyes on Horsens
With the title in Germany, they’ve sent a message to all the other mixed doubles pairs on the international scene. “I think we showed today that we can be quite dangerous,” Bøje said. “It’s in my hometown so of course I’m very much looking forward to that. Hopefully we can do well there.”
Tabeling agreed: “We have the European Championships coming up – that’s our big goal.”
There may be more established pairs in the draw, but Bøje and Tabeling bring a great story and momentum to the court. This duo is one to watch in Horsens.