Ochsenhausen beats Grenzau and returns to Final Four

TTF Liebherr Ochsenhausen are back in the Final Four: with a 3:1 home win against TTC Zugbrücke Grenzau, the four-time champions secured a place in the semifinals of the German Table Tennis Cup on Friday.

Last season, TTF Liebherr Ochsenhausen missed out on a place in the Final Four for the first time after four consecutive appearances, but this season the Swabians are at it again: Ochsenhausen won the quarter-final against TTC Zugbrücke Grenzau 3:1 on Friday evening and will therefore fight for the first title of the year on January 8, 2023 in the ratiopharm arena Ulm/Neu-Ulm in the Liebherr Cup Final, which will be played as usual as a Final Four tournament. Tickets for the event are available here. Also on Friday evening, Borussia Düsseldorf clinched its semifinal ticket with a win against TTC RhönSprudel Fulda-Maberzell.

At least twice Ochsenhausen had to tremble briefly on Friday. The first time in the second singles: Kanak Jha missed two match points against Feng Yi-Hsin, but kept his nerve in the extra time of the fifth set. Thanks to the 3:2 (12:10, 9:11, 11:5, 5:11, 12:10) break of the world number 22, the TTF went into the break with a 2:0 lead. Simon Gauzy had won the opening singles 3:1 (11:13, 13:11, 11:7, 14:12) against Maciej Kubik. "Grenzau is a very dangerous team. It was definitely close, but in the decisive moments we played well and fortunately won," Jha said after the end of the match. Kubik stated, "I played well, but Simon was just better in the end. I think Ochsenhausen deserved to get into the Final Four today overall."

Both teams already back in action on Sunday

It got tight for the second time when Alvaro Robles also missed two match points, finally losing 2:3 (6:11, 13:11, 11:8, 12:14, 7:11) to Patrick Baum and Grenzau thus celebrated the connecting point. However, Gauzy was unimpressed by this and won his second singles match of the evening as well, making everything clear for the TTF with a 3:1 (11:6, 4:11, 11:2, 11:9) win over Feng. "We are happy to be in the Final Four again and we will give everything there," said Jha. His coach Fu Yong said, "Both teams fought hard. But I think the bottom line is that we deserved to win."

For both teams, the TTBL continues next Sunday, November 13, with Ochsenhausen hosting Post SV Mühlhausen at 1 p.m. and Grenzau taking on TTC RhönSprudel Fulda-Maberzell at 3 p.m. All matches will be broadcast live on the Spontent channels on Twitch.

The cup quarterfinals in overview

TTC RhönSprudel Fulda-Maberzell – Borussia Düsseldorf 0:3
Alexandre Cassin – Dang Qiu 0:3 (7:11, 3:11, 4:11)
Ruwen Filus – Anton Källberg 0:3 (3:11, 5:11, 7:11)
Fanbo Meng – Timo Boll 0:3 (5:11, 14:16, 6:11)

TTF Liebherr Ochsenhausen – TTC Zugbrücke Grenzau 3:1
Simon Gauzy – Maciej Kubik 3:1 (11:13, 13:11, 11:7, 14:12)
Kanak Jha – Feng Yi-Hsin 3:2 (12:10, 9:11, 11:5, 5:11, 12:10)
Alvaro Robles – Patrick Baum 2:3 (6:11, 13:11, 11:8, 12:14, 7:11)
Simon Gauzy – Feng Yi-Hsin 3:1 (11:6, 4:11, 11:2, 11:9)

Sunday, November 13
1 p.m.: 1. FC Saarbrücken TT – ASV Grünwettersbach

Sunday, November 27
3 p.m.: TTC Neu-Ulm – Post SV Mühlhausen