Mühlhausen manages to escape against Grünwettersbach
Post SV Mühlhausen's crisis has been halted for the time being: With a 3:1 win against ASC Grünwettersbach, the team at the bottom of the table tennis league has sent out a clear sign of life in the relegation battle. Led by an outstanding Ovidiu Ionescu, who contributed two individual victories, the Thuringians achieved their second win of the season in the Tischtennis Bundesliga (TTBL).
The opening match between Ovidiu Ionescu and Guilherme Teodoro was a real mood lifter for the Mühlhausen fans. The Romanian showed right from the start that he wanted to live up to his nomination as the hosts' number one. He dictated the game against the Brazilian Guilherme with a powerful forehand. Teodoro put up a brave fight, benefiting from a missed match point by the Romanian in the third set and winning it 14:12, but Ionescu did not let this put him off his stride. With a commanding 11:6 in the fourth set, he completed his 3:1 victory and gave the hosts an early lead.
Walther equalizes for Grünwettersbach
The second match of the evening was much closer. Mühlhausen's Daniel Habesohn and Grünwettersbach's Ricardo Walther fought an intense duel that only found a winner in the deciding set. Habesohn got off to a good start, but Walther repeatedly found answers to the Austrian's tactical variations. After five hard-fought sets, Walther prevailed and equalized the match with his 3:2 victory (9:11, 11:6, 10:12, 11:6, 11:6).
With the score at 1:1, the pressure was on Steffen Mengel - and the Mühlhausen player delivered. Mengel put in an impressive performance against Tiago Apolonia and didn't give the Portuguese player a real chance. After a tight first set (12:10), Mengel dominated the next rounds with 11:6 and 11:5. With his 3:0 victory, he put Mühlhausen back in the lead - and got the hall shaking.
Ionescu crowns his performance
Ovidiu Ionescu again set the final point, showing all his class in his second singles match against Ricardo Walther. The Romanian was present right from the start, playing variably and tactically clever. Walther, who already had an exhausting five-set match in his legs, was no longer able to muster the necessary performance to deny Ionescu the match. The Romanian secured the decisive point for Mühlhausen with a 3:0 victory (11:9, 12:10, 11:6).
Conclusion: Mühlhausen regains hope
For Post SV Mühlhausen, the victory is a glimmer of hope in the battle to stay in the league. The team presented itself as a unit, with an outstanding Ovidiu Ionescu as the linchpin. Steffen Mengel also impressed with a dominant performance. For ASC Grünwettersbach, on the other hand, the defeat was a setback. Despite Ricardo Walther's strong performance, the visitors lacked the consistency to break Mühlhausen's fighting spirit. The upcoming games will show whether this victory is the turning point in a disappointing season for Mühlhausen. What is clear, however, is that the Thuringians have shown that they are not to be underestimated despite their weak start to the season.
Overview of matchday 08
Post SV Mühlhausen - ASC Grünwettersbach 3:1
Ovidiu Ionescu - Guilherme Teodoro 3:1 (11:6, 14:12, 12:14, 11:6)
Daniel Habesohn - Ricardo Walther 2:3 (11:9, 6:11, 12:10, 6:11, 6.11)
Steffen Mengel - Tiago Apolonia 3:0 (12:10, 11:6, 11:5)
Ovidiu Ionescu - Ricardo Walther 3:0 (11:9, 12:10, 11:6)
Tuesday, November 26
17:30: 1. FC Saarbrücken TT - TSV Bad Königshofen
Wednesday, November 27
19:00: SV Werder Bremen - Borussia Düsseldorf
Thursday, November 28
18:30: TTC Zugbrücke Grenzau - TTC RhönSprudel Fulda-Maberzell
19:00: Borussia Dortmund - TTC OE Bad Homburg
Saturday, November 30th
17:30: TTF Liebherr Ochsenhausen - TTC Schwalbe Bergneustadt
All TTBL matches will be broadcast live and on demand on Dyn.
Featured image above: Ovidiu Ionescu from Post SV Mühlhausen. Photo: Habel