International

1.FC Saarbrücken TT has taken a big step toward the Champions League semifinals: The three-time title holder celebrated a 3-0 victory over GV Hennebont TT on Sunday evening.

After the triumph in the German Table Tennis Cup, 1. FC Saarbrücken TT is also showing its best side in the Champions League. With a 3-0 win at GV Hennebont TT, the defending champion has opened the door to the semifinals wide and can now even afford a 2-3 defeat in leg 2 on February 13. “We are very happy. It was a very tough away match in Hennebont, but we are delighted to come through with a 3–0 victory. Everyone was in very good shape, and now we are looking forward to the home match.I am very proud to be part of this team,” said Patrick Franziska.

The match of the evening was between Fan Zhendong and Simon Gauzy: the Frenchman, who won the double with TTF Liebherr Ochsenhausen last year, pushed the Olympic champion to his limits. Only a 16:14 win in the fourth set lifted Fan into the shortened fifth, which he finally won 6:2, securing the break for FCS. “This was my first time playing in a Champions League quarterfinal,” said FAN Zhendong. “Today I played against Simon Gauzy, and I think we both performed at a very high level. I managed to win the match in a very difficult situation and was able to contribute to the team’s success. I’m really looking forward to the second leg at home and hope that I can keep improving my performances in the Champions League.”

Truls Moregard had previously celebrated a 3-1 victory over Vladimir Sidorenko, and Franziska then sealed the deal with a 3-0 win over Lev Katsman.

Borussia Düsseldorf and Post SV Mühlhausen are two more teams from the German Table Tennis League (TTBL) to reach the quarterfinals of the Champions League. Düsseldorf won the first leg of the TTBL internal duel 3-0.

Champions League: The quarterfinals at a glance

Leg 1

GV Hennebont TT – 1. FC Saarbrücken TT 0:3
Vladimir Sidorenko – Truls Moregard 1:3 (8:11, 11:8, 4:11, 10:12)
Simon Gauzy – Fan Zhendong 2:3 (11:4, 5:11, 11:7, 14:16, 2:6)
Lev Katsman – Patrick Franziska 0:3 (8:11, 8:11, 11:13)

Post SV Mühlhausen – Borussia Düsseldorf 0:3
Lin Gaoyuan – Kanak Jha 2:3 (9:11, 8:11, 11:9, 11:7, 2:6)
Steffen Mengel – Dang Qiu 2:3 (9:11, 5:11, 11:9, 11:8, 2:6)
Marcos Freitas – Anton Källberg 0:3 (11:13, 7:11, 13:15)

Alliance Nimes/Montpellier – KS Dekorglass Dzialdowo 3:1
KS Bank Spoldzielczy Orlicz Suchedniow – KS Orlen Bogoria Grodzisk Mazowiecki 1:3

Leg 2

Thursday, February 12: KS Orlen Bogoria Grodzisk Mazowiecki – KS Bank Spoldzielczy Orlicz Suchedniow
Friday, February 13: 1. FC Saarbrücken TT – GV Hennebont TT
Friday, February 13: Borussia Düsseldorf – Post SV Mühlhausen
Sunday, February 15: KS Dekorglass Dzialdowo – Alliance Nimes/Montpellier

Header photo: 1. FC Saarbrücken TT's Patrick Franziska (by BeLa Sportfoto)