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Anticipation for the Liebherr Cup Final Four 2024 is growing. Just under four weeks before the cup final round on 7 January (Sunday) in the ratiopharm arena in Ulm/Neu-Ulm, hosts, participants and also the organizers of the Table Tennis Bundesliga (TTBL) looking forward to the first highlight of the national season with excitement at a media event in Ulm/Neu-Ulm.

Cup fever is on the rise in table tennis Germany. Just under four weeks before the 2024 Liebherr Cup Final Four of the German Table Tennis League (TTBL) on January 7, 2024 (Sunday) in the ratiopharm arena Ulm/Neu-Ulm, the heads of the two host cities as well as high-profile representatives of the arena and the tournament participant TTF Liebherr Ochsenhausen got in the mood for the first major highlight of the national season - and made no secret of their anticipation for the top event.

Looking forward to "a special atmosphere in the ratiopharm arena"

"I'm looking forward to the special atmosphere in the ratiopharm arena," said Ulm's First Mayor Martin Bendel, adding that there is always a "great enthusiasm for table tennis and the final" at the event for the ninth consecutive cup final on the Danube.

His Neu-Ulm colleague Katrin Albsteiger emphasized that "top-class sport has a home in the region" and that she was once again very much looking forward to the Cup Final Four. "The last Cup Final Four was the first table tennis event I had been to and I found it to be super exciting," she said, making no secret of her enthusiasm for the event.

The enormous quality of the field of participants must also be considered exceptional. Record cup winners and reigning German champions Borussia Düsseldorf, reigning Champions League winners 1. FC Saarbrücken TT, long-time top dog TTF Liebherr Ochsenhausen and the 2020 winners ASV Grünwettersbach are the four best teams of the cup season, who are bringing four aces from the top 20, eight players from the top 50 and one player from the top 5 of the world rankings to the twin city in addition to some fans.

"We not only have perfect conditions thanks to the arena, but also in sporting terms," said TTBL Managing Director Nico Stehle with pride: "We can welcome four absolute top teams with their world-class players to the Liebherr Cup Final Four and all fans can look forward to a unique treat and a table tennis festival."

Managing Director of the ratiopharm arena Richard King is also looking forward to the table tennis highlight at the beginning of the year with great anticipation: "We are always delighted when titles are awarded in our arena and it is simply fun to experience the great atmosphere at the event."

"Best atmosphere of my career"

For Ochsenhausen's President Kristijan Pejinovic, two hearts beat faster when he thinks about the Cup Final Four - one for his club, for whom it is a special incentive to be part of this highlight every year, and one for the region, which can offer all table tennis fans a great table tennis festival.

In sporting terms, Ochsenhausen doesn't just want to compete according to the motto "Taking part is everything": "If you've already made it to the semi-finals, you naturally want to make it to the final and play for the title," says Pejinovic, who is also aware of the strength of the opponents: "In the end, it will come down to form on the day. Whoever can call up the last few percent more on the day will win the title."

Ochsenhausen player Alvaro Robles adds: "With Hugo Calderano, we have the No. 5 in the current world rankings in our team and we know our own abilities." He is very much looking forward to the Cup Final Four: "For me personally, it was the best atmosphere I've ever played table tennis in my career in front of 5,000 enthusiastic spectators last year."

4000 tickets are already sold

After a new spectator record and a new media record was set at the last Liebherr Cup Final Four, TTBL Managing Director Nico Stehle is delighted with the current level of advance sales: "As of today, we have higher sales figures than last year, when we were sold out, and are currently at just under 4000 spectators. So if you want to be part of this table tennis highlight at the start of the year, you should be quick."

With a view to the nine-year tradition of the Liebherr Cup Final Four in Ulm/Neu-Ulm, Stehle emphasized: "We are incredibly grateful for the support of the twin city of Ulm/Neu-Ulm and the partnership with the ratiopharm arena, which offers us perfect conditions. Of course, a big thank you also goes to our sponsors and partners, some of whom have supported us for many years."

(Photographer: Matthias Kessler/Südwest Presse)