Saarbrücken puts an end to Grenzau's winning streak
The 1st FC Saarbrücken TT has consolidated its second place in the table tennis Bundesliga (TTBL): On the 21st matchday, the reigning runner-up won 3-0 against TTC Zugbrücke Grenzau, ending the visitors' winning streak.
TTC Zugbrücke Grenzau had won three times in a row recently and thus worked its way up to the midfield of the table. The reigning vice-champion was then on Tuesday but a number too big for the Westerwald: With 3:0 won the 1st FC Saarbrücken TT the game of the 21st matchday and set thereby not only the Grenzauer victory series an end, but took revenge at the same time for the 1:3 defeat in the first leg in August.
With 30:12 points, the Saarbrücken team remains in second place and would have home advantage in a possible third play-off duel. The lead over third-placed TTF Liebherr Ochsenhausen, who will play at Post SV Mühlhausen on April 4, now amounts to four points. Saarbrücken already had the ticket for the play-offs in the bag before the match day. It has not yet been decided which team FCS will meet in the semifinals: in addition to Ochsenhausen, Mühlhausen also still has a chance of finishing third.
Saarbrücken ready for the TTCLM final
On Tuesday, everything had initially looked as if Grenzau could also hold its own in Saarbrücken. Patrick Baum won the first two sets against Takuya Jin and seemed to be on the best way to get the break for the guests. But the Japanese player fought his way into the deciding set, in which Baum again had the better cards: The 35-year-old had five match points, but finally lost 15:17 to 2:3 (11:6, 11:8, 9:11, 7:11, 15:17). Cedric Nuytinck then claimed a 3-1 (11-6, 11-5, 9-11, 11-7) win over Feng Yi-Hsin, and after the break Patrick Franziska's 3-0 (11-3, 11-8, 12-10) win over Samuel Walker made it clear for the hosts.
"Jin and Cedrick did outstanding," Franziska said afterwards. "I myself came in well and therefore felt relatively safe right away." Grenzau coach Slobodan Grujic, whose team is in ninth place with 18:24 points, said, "We actually only had a chance in the first singles. From that point on, Saarbrücken was better and there was nothing left for us."
In the TTBL, the action continues for both teams on the 22nd and final main round matchday on April 30: Saarbrücken takes on TTF Liebherr Ochsenhausen, while Grenzau receives TTC Neu-Ulm. Before that, FCS will be fighting for the title in the Champions League (TTCLM): On March 31 and April 3, the final matches against Borussia Düsseldorf will take place.
Overview of the 21st matchday
TTC Neu-Ulm – SV Werder Bremen 3:1
Vladimir Sidorenko – Cristian Pletea 3:1 (11:4, 13:11, 9:11, 11:7)
Maksim Grebnev – Kirill Gerassimenko 3:2 (11:8, 7:11, 6:11, 11:7, 11:7)
Lev Katsman – Marcelo Aguirre 2:3 (5:11, 11:5, 8:11, 11:9, 9:11)
Vladimir Sidorenko – Kirill Gerassimenko 3:1 (12:14, 11:9, 11:9, 11:9)
1. FC Saarbrücken TT – TTC Zugbrücke Grenzau 3:0
Takuya Jin – Patrick Baum 3:2 (6:11, 8:11, 11:9, 11:7, 17:15)
Cedric Nuytinck – Feng Yi-Hsin 3:1 (11:6, 11:5, 9:11, 11:7)
Patrick Franziska – Samuel Walker 3:0 (11:3, 11:8, 12:10)
TTC Schwalbe Bergneustadt – TSV Bad Königshofen 3:1
Benedikt Duda – Filip Zeljko 2:3 (9:11, 8:11, 11:8, 11:7, 8:11)
Alberto Mino – Bastian Steger 3:1 (11:6, 11:7, 9:11, 13:11)
Omar Assar – Martin Allegro 3:1 (9:11, 11:9, 12:10, 11:7)
Benedikt Duda – Bastian Steger 3:0 (11:7, 11:6, 11:8)
Saturday, April 1
2 p.m.: 1. FSV Mainz 05 – TTC RhönSprudel Fulda-Maberzell
Tuesday, April 4
7 p.m.: Post SV Mühlhausen – TTF Liebherr Ochsenhausen
Thursday, April 6
7 p.m.: ASV Grünwettersbach – Borussia Düsseldorf