Bundesliga

TTC OE Clarity Telefonie-Systeme Bad Homburg won their home match against SV Werder Bremen 3–1, securing two vital points in the Table Tennis Bundesliga (TTBL). Csaba Andras played a key role in the victory, winning both his singles matches. It was a special evening for Finn Luu: the Australian made his home debut in front of the Bad Homburg crowd and immediately contributed a crucial point to the team’s victory.

Andras puts Bad Homburg in the lead

Csaba Andras got TTC OE Bad Homburg off to a flying start with a commanding performance against Marcelo Aguirre. The Hungarian dominated the opening singles match and gave his opponent from Bremen little chance to get into his stride. With three clear-cut set wins (11–4, 11–5, 11–6), he secured the first point of the evening for the hosts.

Luu impresses on his home debut

The spotlight then turned to Finn Luu in particular. The Australian played his first match in front of a home crowd against Kirill Gerassimenko – and was immediately rewarded with a victory. Although the Bremen player got off to the better start and took the first set 11–5, Luu gradually found his rhythm. Winning three sets in a row (11–6, 11–7, 11–7), he turned the singles match around and extended Bad Homburg’s lead to 2–0.

“I was really pleased to be able to play my first match in front of the home fans,” said Luu after the match.

Bertrand keeps Werder in the game

Werder Bremen, however, were not ready to admit defeat just yet. In the third singles match, Irvin Bertrand beat Ivor Ban 3–0, narrowing the deficit for the visitors. The first set was fiercely contested: Bertrand narrowly held the upper hand, winning 12–10. In the following two sets, however, Ban was unable to find an answer to his opponent’s play. With scores of 11–2 and 11–4, Bertrand closed the gap and kept Bremen’s hopes of securing a point alive.

Andras seals the home victory

The hosts responded in kind in the fourth singles match. Csaba Andras faced Kirill Gerassimenko once again and built on his convincing performance from the opening match. The Hungarian took the first two sets 11–5 and 11–9. Although Gerassimenko managed to close the gap once more, Andras didn’t give him a chance in the fourth set. With a score of 11–4, he sealed the 3–1 victory.

With his two wins against Aguirre and Gerassimenko, Andras once again confirmed his strong form this season. His singles record now stands at 9–2 – making the Hungarian one of the most successful players in the TTBL at present.

Bad Homburg draw level on points with Werder

This home win has improved the Hesse side’s position in the middle of the table. After six matchdays, TTC OE have a balanced record of three wins and three defeats. This means Bad Homburg are level on points with SV Werder Bremen and sit in sixth place, just behind the Hanseatic side. At the top of the table, Borussia Düsseldorf and TTF Liebherr Ochsenhausen remain unbeaten, both on 12:0 points.

Matchday 6 at a glance

TTC OE Clarity-Tel.Syst.Bad Homburg – SV Werder Bremen 3 :1
Csaba Andras – Marcelo Aguirre 3:0 (11:4, 11:5, 11:6)
Finn Luu – Kirill Gerassimenko 3:1 (5:11, 11:6, 11:7, 11:7)
Ivor Ban – Irvin Bertrand 0:3 (10:12, 2:11, 4:11)
Csaba Andras – Kirill Gerassimenko 3:1 (11:5, 11:9, 6:11, 11:4)

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)

All matches will be broadcast live on Dyn.

You can find the current Table Tennis Bundesliga (TTBL) league table here.

Featured image: Csaba Andras of TTC OE Clarity-Tel.Syst.Bad Homburg (Photo: Wolfgang Bauer).