(by Steve Hopkins, photo TTBL via BeLa Sportfoto)
FC Saarbrucken TT won the Final Four, securing the German team title. There were 5600 fans in attendance at the event in Frankfurt which featured the top four teams of the league season: Saarbrucken, Dusseldorf, Bergneustadt, and Bremen.
In the Semifinals on Saturday, Borussia Dusseldorf needed all five matches to top Schwalbe Bergneustadt 3-2. Anton Kallberg gave Dusseldorf the early lead with a 3-1 win over Romain Ruiz, Benedikt Duda then upset Dang Qiu to even the score. When USA’s Kanak Jha fell to Leo de Nodrest 3-2, Schwalbe took the lead and had a real chance for the upset. However, Anton Kallberg came back from down 0-2 against Duda to even the score, and the Dusseldorf Qiu/Yongyin doubles team was too strong for Nodrest/Rassefosse. Dusseldorf wins 3-2 to advance to the Final.
In the second Semi, all three Saarbrucken players were heavily favored over their Werder Bremen opponents. That did not mean that the season’s biggest over-achievers went easily. In fact, after Marcelo Aguirre lost 0-3 to Fan Zhendong and Bremen had their backs against the wall, they had two tight matches in a row. Kirill Gerassimenko actually upset Franziska to put Bremen on the board, and Mattias Karlsson won the first two games before falling 2-3 to Darko Jorgic. It was two tight matches in the middle, but Bremen needed both of those upsets to have a chance – and they only managed one win. This left their youngest player, Irvin Bertrand, overmatched against Fan Zhendong. Zhendong won 3-1, and the top seed advanced 3-1 overall.
USA’s Kanak Jha was the main highlight for Dusseldorf in the Final – and had his heroics managed to steal one more game – Dusseldorf might have slipped into the Doubles. With such a loaded Saarbrucken team that includes Fan Zhendong, Darko Jorgic, and Patrick Franziska, nearly every match has them favored to win. In today’s matches, Dang Qui kept it close, but Fan Zhendong won the opening game 3-1. Kanak Jha then dominated Darko Jorgic 3-0 to even the match score. Patrick Franziska was strong for Saarbrucken in the third match, jumping out to an early lead, and trading the final two games for a 3-1 win over Anton Kallberg. This left Kanak Jha needing a win over Fan Zhendong to keep Dusseldorf alive. Jha won the first game 11-6, and then Fan won the second by the same score. The two played a tight third game, with Fan pulling away at the end for the 11-8 win. Then Jha had the surprise burst at the end of the fourth to win 11-9 to even the score. Unfortunately for Jha (and Dusseldorf), the heroics ended there. Fan Zhendong played a great final game giving Saarbrucken the 3-1 victory.
For this year, Saarbrucken accomplished everything they set out to do. They had the strongest squad (which also included Truls Moregard for the European Champions League). They started the year by winning the German Table Tennis Cup. Then this Spring, they won both the Champions League and the German League. All three titles for this talented group.
For next year, things may be changing. Fan Zhendong is moving to Dusseldorf next year, so one of the top players is shifting allegiances – and that may change the balance of power. Darko Jorgic is also moving on – signing with a Polish squad for next season. That said, the Saarbrucken team will have Truls Moregard and Hugo Calderano to team with Patrick Franziska – likely enough firepower to be favored again at the start of the next season. Will that be enough to beat a Dusseldorf squad with Fan, Qiu, Kallberg, and Jha? – We’ll all find out next year.
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