Patrick Franziska secured victory for 1.FC Saarbrücken (Photo: Jörg Fuhrmann)
Recovering from the very precipice of defeat, 1.FC Saarbrücken brought the quarter-final stage of the Table Tennis Champions League Men to a dramatic conclusion in Düsseldorf on Tuesday 15th December.
They recorded a 3-2 win against GV Hennebont to keep title hopes alive.
Success but after the first two matches prospects looked distant. Cédric Nuytinck overcame Patrick Franziska (11-9, 6-11, 11-9, 11-6), Omar Assar beat Shang Kun (11-8, 12-10, 11-5) to give GV Hennebont a two-nil lead.
It was at that phase of the engagement matters changed. Darko Jorgic started the fightback for the reigning German Bundesliga champions. In a full distance duel, he accounted for Anders Lund (14-12, 5-11, 15-13, 10-12, 6-3); a ray of hope but then it seemed the door would be closed.
In the next match, Shang Kun lost the first two games against Cédric Nuytinck; he struggled to return the reverse service style and powerful forehand of the Belgian. Gradually, he adjusted and as the match progressed it was Shang Kun who excelled at service and first ball attack.
Eventually, Shang Kun prevailed in five games (6-11, 6-11, 11-6, 11-6, 6-4).
A recovery by Shang Kun, for Patrick Franziska it was the very opposite; in the concluding match of the fixture, he withstood a brave fightback by Omar Assar to seal victory (14-12, 11-9, 7-11, 9-11, 6-4).
Success for 1.FC Saarbrücken as status predicted, it was the same for the remaining outfits that completed the top four seeded places.
Fakel-Gazprom Orenburg recorded a 3-0 win against Roskilde On-Board Tennis BTK 61. In a similar manner Borussia Düsseldorf posted a 3-1 win when facing Sporting Clube de Portugal; the same score line as recorded by TTSC “UMMC” in opposition to KS Dartom Bogoria Grodzisk Mazowiecki.
At the semi-final stage, 1. FC Saarbrücken meet Fakel-Gazprom Orenburg, the top seeds, TTSC “UMMC” oppose Borussia Düsseldorf. The matches will be played on Thursday 17th December.
Tuesday 15th December
Quarter-Finals
FAKEL-GAZPROM ORENBURG (RUS) 3-0 ROSKILDE ON-BOARD TENNIS BTK 61 (DEN)
Marcos Freitas – Michael Maze (11:8, 10:12, 13:11, 9:11, 6:4)
Vladimir SAMSONOV – Jens Lundquist 3-0 (11:6, 11:9, 19:17)
Dimitrij Ovtcharov v Alan Bentsen (11:4, 11:6, 11:3)
BORUSSIA DUSSELDORF (GER) 3-0 SPORTING CLUBE DE PORTUGAL (POR)
Timo Boll v Bode Abiodun 10-12, 11-4, 17-15, 11-7
Anton Källberg v Diogo Carvalho 11-7, 11-4, 11-8
Kristian Karlsson v Thiago Monteiro 4-11, 8-11, 11-4, 11-7, 4-6
Timo Boll v Diogo Carvalho 11-7, 12-10, 11-6)
TTSC “UMMC” (RUS) 3-1 KS DARTOM BOGORIA GRODZISK MAZOWIECKI (POL)
Liam Pitchford v Pavel Sirucek 6-11, 11-13, 11-6, 10-12
Jonathan Groth v Marek Badowski 11-7, 11-2, 9-11, 11-7
Tomislav Pucar v Milosz Redzimski 8-11, 11-8, 11-9, 11-6
Liam Pitchford v Marek Badowski 11-6, 11-8, 5-11, 11-9
1.FC SAARBRÜCKEN TT (GER) 3-2 GV HENNEBONT TT (FRA)
Cédric Nuytinck v Patrick Franziska 11-9, 6-11, 11-9, 11-6
Omar Assar v Shang Kun 11-8, 12-10, 11-5
Anders Lind v Darko Jorgic 12-14, 11-5, 13-15, 12-10, 3-6
Cédric Nuytinck v Shang Kun 11-6, 11-6, 6-11, 6-11, 4-6
Omar Assar v Patrick Franziska 12-14, 9-11, 11-7, 11-9, 4-6
Thursday 17th December
Semi-Finals
17.00 TTSC “UMMC” (RUS) V BORUSSIA DÜSSELDORF (GER)
20.30 FAKEL-GAZPROM ORENBURG (RUS) V 1. FC SAARBRÜCKEN TT (GER)