The tournament in the Swiss city acts as the European continental qualification for the men's and women's ITTF World Cups, which are set to take place in October.

The men's event is scheduled for Düsseldorf in Germany, while the venue for the women's tournament is yet to be finalised.

Freitas impressed on his way to the final in Lausanne where he came up against 32-year-old Danish veteran Michael Maze.

Maze, who won doubles bronze at Athens 2004, has been laid low with a number of injuries since appearing at London 2012, but would still have been fancied by many to overcome his less experienced opponent.

However, Freitas had other ideas and in a tight contest, which saw Maze fight back from two sets down to level the match, the Portuguese eventually secured the title 11-4, 11-6, 6-11, 7-11, 12-10.

"I am happy that I won this tournament," said the 25-year-old.

"I again beat all the top players here to prove I am a top player.

"Now when I prove it to myself too, I can set for another goal; now I need to overcome the best Chinese players.

"Now, when I speak after this victory, I feel I can rule the world.

"This won't happen in two or three weeks.

"It is my aim and I hope I will be able to do it in the recent future."

Liu Jia took the women's Europe Cup crown and secured her place at this year's World Cup event in October ©Remy Gros/ITTF



Germany's European champion Dimitrij Ovtcharov defeated France's Adrien Mattenet in the third place play-off to seal his place in Düsseldorf.

Meanwhile on the women's side, Liu took the European Cup crown after overcoming Belarusian Viktoria Pavlovich in another tight contest in the final.

Liu, who was originally born in China before becoming an Austrian citizen at the age of 16, admitted afterwards she found it tough playing against the defensive Pavlovich.

"I am not playing well against players with the defensive style," said Liu

"That is why I needed time to settle into the match.

"I was nervous, but after the second game I calmed down, which helped a lot."

The oldest player in the tournament, 41-year-old Li Jiao of the Netherlands, will join Liu and Pavlovich at this year's World Cup after she defeated the youngest player in the event, Germany's 19-year-old Petrissa Solja, in the third place play-off.

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