Despite Ricardo Walther, who has regained his strength in the TTBL, the 2:3 defeat against Post SV Mühlhausen could not be averted

After a hard-fought match, the guests from Mühlhausen were able to live up to their role as slight favorites with a 3:2 win against ASV Grünwettersbach and temporarily move up to one of the coveted play-off places.

In a match in which Post SV Mühlhausen put the hosts from Grünwettersbach under a lot of pressure right from the start, only the tactically clever Ricardo Walther was able to prevent an even more significant defeat and give his team a chance to win in the final doubles match, which could not be used in the end and so the slightly favored guests were able to decide the overall match in their favor.

"It was close, not easy for me," noted ASV defensive specialist Xi Wang. "in the lineup we were a bit unlucky, against Mengel it's difficult for me, and for Deni (Kozul) it's also difficult against Daniel (Habesohn)." Nevertheless, the hosts were able to keep fighting back thanks to a strong fighting performance, which meant that the equalizer was reached in the meantime and hope was back. "Ric (Ricardo Walther) is in a good mood," Grünwettersbach coach Achim Krämer confirmed the performance of his top player. "However, it would be nice if we could get all three of them fit at the table for once, which unfortunately we haven't managed to do yet this season," Krämer complained, however, about his team's bad luck with injuries.

Ricardo Walther could not avert defeat despite strong performance

Thanks to a good tactical performance, especially in the service area, Ricardo Walther was able to secure the lead against Ovidiu Ionescu, who was not easy to play for him, after trailing 0:2 in the first set with 3:2 (7:11, 9:11, 11:9, 11:5, 11:8). Afterwards, however, Deni Kozul had to admit defeat to the Austrian Daniel Habesohn with 1:3 (11:8, 6:11, 11:13, 8:11) and therefore both teams went into the break with a 1-1 score. The third match was to be one of the key matches tonight. Xi Wang, who had been injured for a long time before, played against an opponent who was unpleasant for him, but he fought vehemently against the defeat and could even lead 2:1 in sets in the meantime. The few own mistakes and frequent changes of pace of Steffen Mengel then still forced the Abwehras into the deciding set, in which, however, he was behind from the beginning. 2:3 (11:7, 8:11, 13:11, 6:11, 4:11) the game finally went to the Postler and Ricardo Walther could show afterwards again his rising form curve, after unsuccessful start into the TTBL season of this year, with a clear 3:1 (11:3, 11:6, 8:11, 11:5), against the before victorious Daniel Habesohn. In the final doubles, however, the guests were too strong. A recently injured Tiago Apolonia together with doubles partner Deni Kozul never quite found the recipe for victory and Ionescu and Mengel deservedly won 3:1 (8:11, 11:7, 12:10, 11:5).

The next matches in the German Table Tennis League are scheduled for Saturday, January 07. Among others, the tenth in the table, TTC Schwalbe Bergneustadt, will then meet the penultimate in the table, TTC Zugbrücke Grenzau, while in the later match of the same day, the seventh in the table, TSV Bad Königshofen, will meet the ninth, TTC RhönSprudel Fulda-Maberzell. During the coming week, on January 10 and 11, there will be three more matches. As usual, all matches will be broadcast live on Spontent's channels on Twitch.

The 12th matchday in overview

ASV Grünwettersbach – Post SV Mühlhausen 2:3
Ricardo Walther – Ovidiu Ionescu 3:2 (7:11, 9:11, 11:9, 11:5, 11:8)
Deni Kozul – Daniel Habesohn 1:3 (11:8, 6:11, 11:13, 8:11)
Xi Wang – Steffen Mengel 2:3 (11:7, 8:11, 13:11, 6:11, 4:11)
Ricardo Walther – Daniel Habesohn 3:1 (11:3, 11:6, 8:11, 11:5)
Deni Kozul/Tiago Apolonia – Ovidiu Ionescu/Steffen Mengel 1:3 (11:8, 7:11, 10:12, 5:11)

Saturday, January 7
4 p.m.: TTC Schwalbe Bergneustadt – TTC Zugbrücke Grenzau
7 p.m.: TSV Bad Königshofen – TTC RhönSprudel Fulda-Maberzell

Tuesday, January 10
7 p.m.: TTC Neu-Ulm – 1. FC Saarbrücken-TT
8 p.m.: 1. FSV Mainz 05 – TTF Liebherr Ochsenhausen

Wednesday, January 11
7 p.m.: SV Werder Bremen – Borussia Düsseldorf