Also known as "Eliza", Samara speaks 4 languages - Romanian, English, Spanish and Italian. She is the only European woman to have advanced to the final of the Women’s World Cup (2012). Romania’s national coach Viorel Filimon has been coaching her since her junior days. Bad news at the beginning of the year 2017: She had to undergo surgery (left knee) and had to cancel her participation in the Europe Top 16 in Antibes. Samara hopes to be back in shape for Düsseldorf. As the 3rd Romanian women in history of table tennis, following the footsteps of Maria Alexandru who won in London in 1966 and Otilia Badescu who succeeded in Courmayeur in 2003, she became European Singles Champion in 2015 and commented: "My dreams came true. I cannot possibly be happier than I am right now".