Bundesliga

Six matches, six wins: not even the combined experience of TTC RhönSprudel Fulda-Maberzell could stop TTF Liebherr Ochsenhausen’s spectacular run in the TTBL. Without star player Shunsuke Togami, the Swabians prevailed 3–2 in the deciding doubles after almost four hours of play, keeping pace with record champions Borussia Düsseldorf.

Ochsenhausen missed out on the play-offs last season, but a little over a quarter of the way into the new campaign, head coach Bogdan Pugna’s team are firmly on course. TTF already have a six-point cushion over fifth place, currently occupied by Borussia Dortmund on 6–6 points. “All the players have a lot of confidence,” Daniel Berzosa told Dyn late on Saturday night. “Whether we win or lose, we keep playing as a team.”

That also applies in the absence of star man Shunsuke Togami. The Japanese player missed his third match of the season – meaning he has now sat out half of Ochsenhausen’s fixtures so far. Even so, the young TTF side remain unbeaten alongside record champions Borussia Düsseldorf.

Tiago Abiodun opened the evening against Fulda’s Jonathan Groth in a match-up that, like many of the encounters on the night, pitted youth against experience. His impressive victory over the Dane not only earned a point for his team, but also moved Abiodun to a positive TTBL record of 3–2 this season.

Ovtcharov back at the table after European Championship withdrawal

Dimitrij Ovtcharov somewhat surprisingly lined up as the hosts’ No. 2. The two-time European singles champion had been forced to withdraw from the European Championships at short notice through injury, but already made his TTBL comeback on Saturday.

For a long time, it looked set to be a difficult return for the Germany international. After two evenly contested sets, Iulian Chirita appeared firmly in control at 9–3 up in the third. But Ovtcharov drew on all his experience and fighting spirit to turn around the potentially decisive set. Against an increasingly frustrated Romanian, he then ran away with the fourth to complete the victory.

After the break, Ruwen Filus put “Team Experience” 2–1 ahead against Darius Movileanu. The young Romanian left-hander struggled to find solutions against the defensive specialist. TTC head coach Qing Yu Meng then made a tactical move: his son Fanbo replaced designated No. 1 Jonathan Groth against Chirita. Chirita, however, shook off the disappointment of his opening singles and won in four sets to force the deciding doubles.

Left-left combination succeeds on debut

Ochsenhausen fielded an unusual pairing in the decider, with two left-handers – Movileanu and Berzosa – taking to the table together. “It was the first time we had played doubles together,” Berzosa admitted afterwards. “We’re not used to playing with another left-hander.”

That did not stop the TTF pairing from racing into a dominant 2–0 lead and even earning two match points at 10–8. Ovtcharov and Meng saved both, however, and fought their way impressively back into the contest.

In the fifth and deciding set, the visitors regained the upper hand, converted their match point and celebrated a sixth win from six after almost four hours of play.

TTF Liebherr Ochsenhausen therefore remain second in the table behind Borussia Düsseldorf. A potential showdown between two unbeaten sides will have to wait, however: TTF and Borussia do not meet until Matchday 11 on 20 December. TTC RhönSprudel Fulda-Maberzell sit eighth on 4–8 points.

Matchday 6 fixtures

TTC RhönSprudel Fulda-Maberzell – TTF Liebherr Ochsenhausen 2–3
Jonathan Groth – Tiago Abiodun 0–3 (7–11, 6–11, 11–13)
Dimitrij Ovtcharov – Iulian Chirita 3–1 (5–11, 11–7, 14–12, 11–2)
Ruwen Filus – Darius Movileanu 3–0 (11–8, 11–8, 11–8)
Fanbo Meng – Iulian Chirita 1–3 (5–11, 1–11, 14–12, 9–11)
Fanbo Meng/Dimitrij Ovtcharov – Daniel Berzosa/Darius Movileanu 2–3 (8–11, 8–11, 12–10, 11–5, 7–11)

TTC Schwalbe Bergneustadt – Post SV Mühlhausen 2–3
Benedikt Duda – Ovidiu Ionescu 1–3 (10–12, 11–7, 10–12, 6–11)
Romain Ruiz – Kay Stumper 3–1 (9–11, 12–10, 11–7, 11–8)
Cedric Meissner – Marcos Freitas 1–3 (7–11, 3–11, 11–8, 9–11)
Benedikt Duda – Steffen Mengel 3–0 (11–6, 11–5, 11–9)
Meissner/Rassenfosse – Ionescu/Freitas 0–3 (8–11, 9–11, 6–11)

Borussia Düsseldorf – Borussia Dortmund 3–1
Fan Zhendong – Joao Geraldo 3–0 (13–11, 12–10, 11–9)
Kanak Jha – Wim Verdonschot 1–3 (6–11, 5–11, 11–5, 10–12)
Dang Qiu – Kristian Karlsson 3–1 (9–11, 11–3, 12–10, 11–5)
Fan Zhendong – Wim Verdonschot 3–1 (11–5, 6–11, 11–7, 13–11)

ASC Grünwettersbach – TTC Zugbrücke Grenzau 2–3
Ricardo Walther – Martin Allegro 3–0 (11–9, 11–6, 11–9)
Tiago Apolonia – Liam Pitchford 0–3 (8–11, 5–11, 7–11)
Tom Jarvis – Maciej Kubik 3–1 (11–8, 11–13, 11–5, 11–8)
Ricardo Walther – Liam Pitchford 1–3 (6–11, 12–14, 12–10, 5–11)
Apolonia/Hippler – Kubik/Allegro 2–3 (12–14, 5–11, 12–10, 11–2, 9–11)

1. FC Saarbrücken-TT – TSV Bad Königshofen 3–1
Hugo Calderano – Andre Bertelsmeier 3–0 (11–6, 11–5, 11–9)
Eduard Ionescu – Daniel Habesohn 3–2 (7–11, 11–6, 7–11, 11–4, 11–5)
Patrick Franziska – Bastian Steger 2–3 (9–11, 9–11, 11–5, 11–2, 8–11)
Hugo Calderano – Daniel Habesohn 3–0 (11–3, 11–5, 11–5)

Monday, 2 November:
19:00: TTC OE Clarity-Tel.Syst.Bad Homburg – SV Werder Bremen

All matches are streamed live on Dyn.

The current TTBL standings can be found here.

Photo: Tiago Abiodun of TTF Liebherr Ochsenhausen (photo: BeLa Sportfoto).