The "TTBL Player of the Month December": Patrick Franziska from 1. FC Saarbrücken TT
TTBL fans had the opportunity to vote for their "TTBL Player of the Month for December" in a social media poll. This month's candidates were Patrick Franziska (1. FC Saarbrücken TT), Yongyin Li (1. FSV Mainz 05), Benedikt Duda (TTC Schwalbe Bergneustadt) and Bastian Steger (TSV Bad Königshofen). The TTBL fans voted German international Patrick Franziska, who was unbeaten in the TTBL last month, as "Player of the Month" by a narrow margin ahead of Yongyin Li.
The first winner of the new year in German table tennis was already clear before the first competitions after New Year's Eve: The TTBL social media community voted national player Patrick Franziska from runners-up 1. FC Saarbrücken TT as "Player of the Month December" after his flawless performances during the Advent period.
Unlike his first vote for "Germany's Player of the Year" five years ago, the World Championship bronze medallist in doubles did not believe in "fake news" when he heard about his award. On the contrary: "I'm delighted. This recognition from the fans has really put a grin on my face, despite all the concentration on the first important matches of the new year," said Franziska in an interview with the TTBL media team about the result of the vote at the WTT Finals in Doha and the Liebherr Cup Final Four in Ulm/Neu-Ulm.
Unbeaten in December
Franziska's most recent "brace" was still fresh in the minds of TTBL fans. The day after Christmas 2023, the 31-year-old sealed the Champions League winner's success in the doubles at the premiere of the combination with Cedric Meissner in his club's 3:2 win over "hosts" and defending champions Borussia Düsseldorf in Hamburg. Before the decisive match, Franziska had already won the opening singles match against his long-time national team colleague and friend Timo Boll 3:2 after an eventful game.
"We played a great match in Hamburg even without a top line-up. It was a special win for me against Timo because we know each other so well and have played against each other so often, and it was also very nice in the doubles with 'Ceddy' because we'd never played together before," said Franziska, looking back on the successful end to the year.
The top 30 player proved similarly valuable for Saarbrücken at the beginning of December in the unexpectedly laborious 3:2 against relegation candidates 1. FSV Mainz 05. His four-set victory against Luka Mladenovic meant the Saarland team took a 2:1 lead, but it was Franziska who made the victory perfect in the doubles match with Cedric Nuytinck, which was once again decisive.
Franziska also underlined his overall top class in the past first half of the season. Only one defeat in eight singles matches means a place in the top group of TTBL aces, to which the Hesse-born player has belonged for some time now.
Florian Manzke