Grünwettersbach defeats Ochsenhausen 3:2
ASC Grünwettersbach pulled off a major surprise on match day 11 of the German Table Tennis League (TTBL). With a narrow 3:2 home win over TTF Liebherr Ochsenhausen, the trio of Walther, Apolonia and Teodoro secured two important points and showed once again that they are not to be underestimated this season.
The evening got off to a promising start for the home side: Ricardo Walther fought a thrilling duel with Tiago Abiodun. After Abiodun had won the first two sets (11:7, 11:9), Walther had to dig deep into his bag of tricks to turn the match around. He fought his way back into the match with tactical changes and a clear focus. Walther won the following sets 11:6, 11:8 and 11:8. The acclaimed 3:2 victory gave the Grünwettersbach team the 1:0 lead.
In the second singles match, the TTF sent Shunsuke Togami into the race to face Guilherme Teodoro. But on this evening, the Japanese player was a size too big for the young Brazilian. Togami dominated the match right from the start and didn't give Teodoro the slightest chance. With three clear sets (11:5, 11:6, 11:6), the Japanese player immediately brought his team back into the match.
Apolonia defies Gauzy in five sets
The match between Tiago Apolonia and Simon Gauzy was a duel at eye level.Even before the match, it was clear that the two table tennis veterans could provide a highlight - and they delivered. Apolonia kept the upper hand in the first set in extra time and narrowly secured the round with 15:13. Led by the home fans, he seemed to literally fly and extended his lead to 2:0.But Simon Gauzy refused to give in.The Frenchman found his rhythm in the third set and reduced the deficit to 1:2 with an 11:9. When Gauzy then dominated the fourth set 11:5, the momentum finally seemed to tip to his side.In the decisive fifth set, Apolonia ended the match with an 11:6 set win and put the hosts back in the lead.
However, Shunsuke Togami once again showed why he is one of the hottest talents in the league. In the fourth singles match, he gave Ricardo Walther no chance with another 3:0 (11:8, 11:7, 11:8).With his second 3-0 win of the day, Togami kept the TTF's hopes of an away win alive.
Grünwettersbach once again shows strength in the final double
However, Guilherme Teodoro and Tiago Apolonia showed nerves of steel in the decisive doubles match. The duo from Karlsruhe prevailed 3:2 (11:7, 11:13, 11:7, 9:11, 11:1) against the Ochsenhausen duo of Tiago Abiodun and Simon Gauzy. This was the fifth time this season that the team from Grünwettersbach had won the final doubles match. “We hoped to get into the doubles, wanted to get two points in the singles and therefore chose the appropriate line-up. In the end, we're very happy with the win,” said Ricardo Walther after the match.
Bogdan Pugna, team manager of TTF Liebherr Ochsenhausen, was fair despite the defeat: “Unfortunately, we didn't win the match today. Congratulations to Grünwettersbach for their performance. Hugo (Calderano) unfortunately couldn't be there today and we knew from the start that it would be a tough match. We gave our best and fought to the end, but on this day three games went 3:2 to Grünwettersbach.”
With three narrow 3:2 victories, Grünwettersbach once again showed its fighting class and consolidated its midfield position in the league. For TTF Liebherr Ochsenhausen, the realization remains that despite an outstanding performance by Shunsuke Togami, the decisive moments of the evening went to the hosts.
Der 11. Spieltag in der Übersicht
ASC Grünwettersbach – TTF Liebherr Ochsenhausen 3:2
Ricardo Walther - Tiago Abiodun 3:2 (7:11, 9:11, 11:6, 11:8, 11:8)
Guilherme Teodoro - Shunsuke Togami 0:3 (5:11, 6:11, 6:11)
Tiago Apolonia - Simon Gauzy 3:2 (15:13, 11:8, 9:11, 5:11, 11:6)
Ricardo Walther - Shunsuke Togami 0:3 (8:11, 7:11, 8:11)
Guilherme Teodoro/Tiago Apolonia - Tiago Abiodun/Simon Gauzy 3:2 (11:7, 11:13, 11:7, 9:11, 11:1)
TTC Zugbrücke Grenzau – Post SV Mühlhausen 2:3
Yi-Hsin Feng – Ovidiu Ionescu 3:0 (11:7, 11:7, 11:4)
Luka Mladenovic – Steffen Mengel 0:3 (6:11, 6:11, 7:11)
Maciej Kubik – Irvin Bertrand 0:3 (11:13, 7:11, 4:11)
Yi-Hsin Feng – Steffen Mengel 3:1 (5:11, 11:8, 11:7, 11:9)
Patrick Baum/Maciej Kubik – Irvin Betrand/Ovidiu Ionescu 1:3 (6:11, 9:11, 11:6, 8:11)
Freitag, 20. Dezember
19 Uhr: TTC OE Bad Homburg 1987 – SV Werder Bremen
Samstag, 21. Dezember
17:30 Uhr: TSV Bad Königshofen – TTC Schwalbe Bergneustadt
Sonntag, 22. Dezember
15:30 Uhr: Borussia Düsseldorf – BV Borussia 09 Dortmund
17 Uhr: 1. FC Saarbrücken-TT – TTC RhönSprudel Fulda-Maberzell
All TTBL matches are broadcast live on Dyn.
Featured image above: Tiago Apolonia from ASC Grünwettersbach (Photo: Hansruedi Lüthi)