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Cup winners TTF Liebherr Ochsenhausen will play the Liebherr TTBL final against defending champions Borussia Düsseldorf in Frankfurt on June 15. In an interview, Ochsenhausen's French star Simon Gauzy talks about his feelings ahead of his farewell match for the Upper Swabians, his hopes and the differences between the TTBL and the Pro A in his home country.

Simon Gauzy, you and TTF Liebherr Ochsenhausen will face Borussia Düsseldorf in the Liebherr TTBL final in Frankfurt on June 15. But it's not your first final in the Ochsenhausen jersey, what memories do you have of the previous finals?

There are too many memories of the finals and the club to list them all. First and foremost, of course, I have the finals with a positive ending in my head. But above all, my first title with the cup win in 2019 and the subsequent party with the whole club, my teammates, the staff and the fans will remain unforgettable.

Ochsenhausen won both main round matches against Düsseldorf. Does that play a role in the final?

No, in my eyes it doesn't matter at all. There was no duel in which both teams played completely. Düsseldorf were without Dang Qiu in both games and we were also without Hugo and Shunsuke on the road. Regardless of that, we know that we can win even against Düsseldorf's best team, which is undoubtedly very strong.

Your coach Bogdan Pugna has only been in office since the start of the season. Why does Ochsenhausen have the chance to win the double under his leadership after winning the cup straight away?

The cooperation between Bogdan and us as a team worked very well right from the start, and the club's general planning for the season was also good. In the end, however, the most important thing was that we were always in top form and were able to deliver our best performance as soon as it counted. We now want to prove this once again in June.

Did you expect your team to reach two finals before the start of the season?

We were aware that we could and wanted to achieve great things with this year's squad. Our stated goal was to reach both finals and win at least one title. Even though we have already achieved this goal, we are still hungry and it goes without saying that we want to finish the league together and crown the season with the double.

The final is also your last game for Ochsenhausen after twelve years. How do you feel about this match?

Of course, I look back on the final day with a lot of emotions and mixed feelings. On the one hand, I already miss the club, but on the other hand, it was time for a change. We made this decision together and consciously. However, I will continue to give my all for our colors until the last point in the final, just as I have done for the past twelve years.

Is the feeling of motivation from the upcoming farewell different from the ambition before other games?

I wouldn't say that. As soon as I stand at the table, my motivation is always the same, regardless of the situation. It's already a dream end for me, but to leave with two titles would of course be insane.

You've been playing for Ochsenhausen in the TTBL for twelve years. How has the league changed during this time?

A lot has happened in those years. The league has always been extremely difficult, and with 22 matches plus the cup, it has become even more difficult. The standard is extremely high and the teams are strong and hungry. It's not for nothing that the German Table Tennis League was and is the best league in Europe.

After the final, you will return to your home country of France, where table tennis is currently experiencing a boom. Can the Pro A in France learn anything from the TTBL, and if so, what?

After the Olympics, the sport has become huge in France, but the league is still not as good as in Germany. While there are enough professional clubs here, which are sufficiently supported by sponsors and partners, the French league has some catching up to do. There are not yet enough clubs at this level of professionalism in France. But I hope that the table tennis boom will continue in the right direction in the future.

Let's go back to the final: what will it come down to - and what's your prediction?

On the one hand, Düsseldorf has more experience in finals, but on the other hand, we've already won one this year and are traveling to the final with the cup title behind us. In Hugo Calderano, who is like a brother to me, we currently have one of the best players in the world in our ranks, which is certainly not a disadvantage for us. Like me, it's his last game for the club, so we'll be doing everything we can with the whole team to have a successful farewell. If we play like we have recently, it will be difficult for Düsseldorf. However, we also have a tough opponent waiting for us.

Thank you very much for talking to us, Simon Gauzy.

Interview: Florian Manzke