Kanak Jha unstoppable: Saarbrücken defeated by Bergneustadt

TTC Schwalbe Bergneustadt is in a jubilant mood in the German Table Tennis League (TTBL). The team won 3:1 against the reigning runners-up and Champions League winners from 1. FC Saarbrücken TT, proving that they are also an opponent to be taken seriously this season. Kanak Jha in particular, who had already scored decisively for Bergneustadt on the first match day, once again proved his outstanding form and played a key role in his team's success.

Ionescu puts Saarbrücken in the lead

The duel between Eduard Ionescu and Benedikt Duda kicked off in the Joachim-Deckarm-Halle in Saarbrücken. Ionescu, who had already performed strongly in the season opener, also made his mark this time. The young Romanian started confidently and won the first set 11:8. Duda countered in the second set with 11:6, but Ionescu was not impressed by this and consistently exploited some of Duda's supposedly easy mistakes in the third set. The fourth set was fiercely contested from the start, but Ionescu held his nerve in the end and secured the set 12:10 - and thus the first point for Saarbrücken.

Kanak Jha provides the equalizer

In the second singles match, Patrick Franziska, who had just returned from the WTT Contender in Lima, faced Kanak Jha. The young American, who had already impressed with strong performances in recent weeks, got off to a furious start and gave Franziska little chance in the first set. Franziska fought back in the second set and equalized the score. However, Jha, who has been in top form since his return to Bergneustadt, adapted better and better to Franziska's style of play. With quick topspins and precise blocking, he took the next two sets to level the score at 1:1.

Cedric Meissner and Adrien Rassenfosse faced each other in the third match of the evening. The Belgian dominated the match right from the start, winning the first set with aplomb and also keeping up the pace in the second set. Meissner was able to keep up well at times, but Rassenfosse proved more composed in the end and decided the match 3:2 in his favor. Bergneustadt thus took the lead for the first time.

Brilliant performance from Jha - Jorgic cannot avert defeat

Darko Jorgic faced Kanak Jha in the final duel, after the Slovenian had previously replaced Eduard Ionescu. Jorgic narrowly lost the first set 9:11 to the 24-year-old. However, he found his rhythm in the second set and won it 11:7, rekindling the hopes of the crowd. However, Jha was also in outstanding form in the second game, taking the third set 11:9 and thus setting the course for victory. The US-American finally dominated the fourth set 11:4 to make the final score 3:1 for Bergneustadt.

TTC Schwalbe Bergneustadt put down a strong marker with this away win in Saarbrücken. Kanak Jha in particular was the outstanding player of the evening with two wins against the top players Franziska and Jorgic. 1. FC Saarbrücken TT must now quickly put the defeat behind them and focus on the tasks ahead. Bergneustadt, on the other hand, can go into the next match with a broad chest.

Comments on the game:

Eduard Ionescu (1. FC Saarbrücken TT):
“My game felt good today. I'm very happy to have won against Benedikt Duda. We all wanted to win as a team, of course. Unfortunately, today wasn't our day, but we'll do our best again in the next game.”

Kanak Jha (TTC Schwalbe Bergneustadt):
“I'm very surprised and didn't think I would win both matches. I was able to win against Franziska for the first time. The match felt strange for me, as neither of us had found our rhythm yet. It was the second win of the season for my team, but of course the season is still very long. Our goal this year is to reach the play-offs.”

Click here for the current table: https://www.ttbl.de/bundesliga/table

Overview of the 2nd matchday

1. FC Saarbrücken TT – TTC Schwalbe Bergneustadt 1:3
Eduard Ionescu - Benedikt Duda 3:1 (11:8, 6:11, 11:7, 12:10)
Patrick Franziska - Kanak Jha 2:3 (5:11, 11:7, 11:9, 7:11, 11:13)
Cedric Meissner - Adrien Rassenfosse 2:3 (11:4, 9:11, 11:8, 9:11, 6:11)
Darko Jorgic - Kanak Jha 1:3 (9:11, 11:7, 9:11, 4:11)

ASC Grünwettersbach – SV Werder Bremen 1:3
Tiago Apolonia – Marcelo Aguirre 3:2 (11:7, 11:9, 6:11, 8:11, 15:13)
Leo de Nodrest – Kirill Gerassimenko 0:3 (7:11, 7:11, 10:12)
Ricardo Walther – Mattias Falck 1:3 (11:7, 5:11, 8:11, 3:11)
Tiago Apolonia – Kirill Gerassimenko 2:3 (11:9, 10:12, 8:11, 11:3, 8:11)

TTC RhönSprudel Fulda-Maberzell – Borussia Düsseldorf 3:0️
Dimitrij Ovtcharov – Kay Stumper 3:0 (11:9, 11:6, 11:9)
Cheng-Jui Kao – Anton Källberg 3:1 (11:9, 11:8, 5:11, 11:8)
Fanbo Meng – Timo Boll 3:1 (4:11, 11:2, 13:11, 11:8)

Sunday, September 1st
2 p.m.: TSV Bad Königshofen – TTF Liebherr Ochsenhausen
5 p.m.: TTC Zugbrücke Grenzau – TTC OE Bad Homburg

Monday, September 2nd
7 p.m.: Post SV Mühlhausen – BV Borussia 09 Dortmund

All matches in the Table Tennis Bundesliga (TTBL) are broadcast live and on demand on Dyn.

Featured image above: Kanak Jha (Photo: TTC Schwalbe Bergneustadt)