Start according to plan for TTC Neu-Ulm against ASV Grünwettersbach
The season opener in the German Table Tennis League (TTBL) went according to plan for TTC Neu-Ulm. In their own hall, they defeated ASV Grünwettersbach 3:1, but had to struggle with slight teething problems.
On the first match day, one of Neu-Ulm's newcomers was particularly challenged. Dimitrij Ovtcharov needed two and a half sets and a timeout before he was in the match after his return to the Tischtennis Bundesliga (TTBL). The guests from ASV Grünwettersbach got off to a good start in the person of Ricardo Walther; the world number 73 won the first two sets. "We knew we were the underdog and had to crack one of the superstars to get into the doubles," Walther said. "I was close and should have won the match. But when things don't go Dima's way, he risks more and plays more aggressive. Then I'm under more pressure."
After this 0:2 set deficit of Ovtcharov, hall speaker and fans provided cheering and corresponding atmosphere in the Neu-Ulm hall. When Ovtcharov was trailing 1:4 in the third set, the Neu-Ulm player took a time-out - and it seemed to have done him good, because he took the next three sets and won the match narrowly 3:2 (5:11, 2:11, 11:8, 11:5, 11:9). "I'm happy that I was able to win my matches," Ovtcharov said. "In the match against Ricardo Walther it was almost an embarrassment to be shown up like that. In the timeout I collected myself and then the knot broke."
Ovtcharov leaves Xi Wang no chance
The new arrivals of the TTC Neu-Ulm from the top 10 of the world rankings will once again upgrade the Table Tennis Bundesliga (TTBL). Moregardh, Lin and Ovtcharov are allowed to play in the Bundesliga, whereas the Japanese Tomokazu Harimoto is only eligible for the Champions League. And Moregardh showed his class right away. The world number six gave Xi Wang little chance in a clear 3:0 (11:6, 11:8, 11:8) and set the score at 2:0 for Neu-Ulm.
Tiago Apolonia then gave the guests hope again. The Portuguese won his match against Lev Katsmann, who is ranked almost 200 places behind him in the world rankings, clearly 3:1 (8:11, 13:11, 11:5, 11:6) and reduced the score to 1:2. The decisive factor for Apolonia was that he was able to win the second set despite two set points from his opponent: "It was the first match of the season and then at my old club and a great atmosphere in the hall. I'm happy with my performance, but with Neu-Ulm's lineup it was clear that it would be very difficult for us."
In the duel of the two top players, Dimitrij Ovtcharov then clearly kept the upper hand against Xi Wang with 3:0 (11:5, 13:11, 11:7). "In my second match against Xi Wang, I deserved to win. It was important for the team to start the season with a win," said Ovtcharov.
TTC Neu-Ulm – ASV Grünwettersbach 3:1 Dimitrij Ovtcharov - Ricardo Walther 3:2 (5:11, 2:11, 11:8, 11:5, 11:9)
Truls Moregardh – Xi Wang 3:0 (11:6, 11:8, 11:8)
Lev Katsman – Tiago Apolonia 1:3 (11:8, 11:13, 5:11, 6:11)
Dimitrij Ovtcharov – Xi Wang 3:0 (11:5, 13:11, 11:7)
TTC Schwalbe Bergneustadt - 1. FSV Mainz 05 3:1 Omar Assar – Luka Mladenovic 0:3 (7:11, 11:13, 8:11)
Romain Ruiz – Abdullah Talha Yigenler 3:1 (5:11, 11:4, 11:5, 11:8)
Benedikt Duda – Andrei Putuntika 3:1 (11:6, 8:11, 11:7, 11:6)
Omar Assar – Abdullah Talha Yigenler 3:1 (11:9, 11:3, 8:11, 11:5)
TTF Liebherr Ochsenhausen – TTC RhönSprudel Fulda-Maberzell 3:0 Simon Gauzy – Fanbo Meng 3:0 (11:4, 11:5, 11:8)
Kanak Jha – Quadri Aruna 3:0 (12:10, 11:4, 11:9)
Alvaro Robles – Alexandre Cassin 3:2 (6:11, 6:11, 11:7, 11:4, 11:9)
TSV Bad Königshofen – SV Werder Bremen 2:3 Martin Allegro – Kirill Gerassimenko 2:3 (4:11, 11:4, 6:11, 11:4, 11:13)
Filip Zeljko – Mattias Falck 3:0 (11:7, 11:2, 13:11)
Bastian Steger – Marcelo Aguirre 3:0 (13:11, 12:10, 11:4)
Martin Allegro – Mattias Falck 1:3 (9:11, 14:12, 4:11, 8:11)
Bastian Steger/Kilian Ort - Kirill Gerassimenko/Cristian Pletea 1:3 (11:8, 7:11, 10:12, 7:11)