Bundesliga

A major decision was made on the penultimate matchday of the TTBL: record champions Borussia Düsseldorf sealed the regular-season title with a clear 3–0 win in the traditional rivalry clash against TTC Zugbrücke Grenzau, earning the right to choose their semi-final opponent at the Liebherr TTBL Final4. That means Düsseldorf can avoid the awkward draw of 1. FC Saarbrücken-TT and superstar Fan Zhendong. Saarbrücken, meanwhile, won the top match against SV Werder Bremen 3–1 on Wednesday night. The focus there was on a departing quartet led by Darko Jorgic, who will leave the club at the end of the season.

Düsseldorf hold their nerve

Despite the emphatic scoreline at the ARAG Centercourt, Düsseldorf’s Dang Qiu had plenty of praise for the visitors. “Grenzau performed superbly,” the Germany international told Dyn. “It says 3–0 on the sheet, but it didn’t feel like 3–0.” A closer look at the match report backs up Qiu’s impression: Li Yongyin against Samuel Walker and Anton Källberg against Maciej Kubik both went the distance — Li even had to fight back from 1–2 down.

Qiu’s own match was slightly less dramatic, but far from straightforward. He beat Martin Allegro in four sets, yet the Belgian repeatedly posed questions. “It was tough overall,” Qiu said in his analysis. “Not just the first set — the sets after that were very hard as well. I often got off to a good start and then it became very tight. He played very well and caused me problems.”

Stefko not unhappy despite defeat

For Zugbrücke, the manner of the loss was painful, but it was also another sign of the progress the team has made. “When everything clicks, we can compete with any team — we’ve shown that in recent matches,” said Anton Stefko, who coached in place of Slobodan Grujić, the health-stricken head coach who will leave after the season. “There’s no shame in losing to a team like that. They were simply better, and we put up a good fight.”

Grenzau head into the final matchday on Sunday in 10th place. With 16 points, it was already clear — even before TSV Windsbach’s decision not to go up — that TTC will be playing in the TTBL again next season. With a win over Grünwettersbach, or another defeat for TSV Bad Königshofen, Grenzau will finish the season outside the designated relegation places.

Tearful farewells in Saarbrücken

The top match between 1. FC Saarbrücken-TT and SV Werder Bremen was dominated by the farewell of four players making their last home appearance for FCS. Darko Jorgic, Fan Zhendong, Cedric Meissner and Yuto Muramatsu will all leave the Saarland club at the end of the season and were given a fitting send-off by team manager Nicolas Barrois and the home crowd. Fan (Borussia Düsseldorf) and Meissner (TTC Schwalbe Bergneustadt) will remain in the TTBL.

For Jorgic in particular, it was an emotional moment. The Slovenian spent eight years in Saarbrücken and, together with Patrick Franziska, “delivered the most successful period in our history,” Barrois said, visibly moved. “As we say in Germany: you never truly leave.” Jorgic, too, had to wipe away tears as he thanked the club and the fans. Fan addressed the supporters inside the Joachim Deckarm Halle as well. The Chinese star spent one season at the club, while Meissner and Muramatsu each completed three campaigns.

Fan delivers twice as Falck shines

On the table, Fan impressed one last time in front of the home crowd. Against Irvin Bertrand, the Olympic champion needed five sets; to close the night, he was far more decisive against Bremen’s No. 1 Kirill Gerassimenko, winning 3–0. The third Saarbrücken point came from Patrick Franziska, who beat Gerassimenko 3–1. Mattias Falck played the role of spoiler on Jorgic’s farewell night, winning in straight sets to claim Werder’s only point.

Final4 picture behind Borussia still open

Both clubs had already qualified for the Liebherr TTBL Final4, but the match still carried significance in terms of seeding. Düsseldorf’s win ended Bremen’s hopes of the regular-season title, yet Werder still want to round off a strong campaign in second place. Saarbrücken can still reach second on the final matchday and, by doing so, avoid a semi-final against the record champions under their own steam.

For the first time, Düsseldorf will be able to choose whether they face the third- or fourth-placed team in the semi-finals. “No idea yet how we’ll handle it,” Qiu admitted. “We haven’t discussed it, because it wasn’t even certain we would finish first. Maybe we’ll think about it over the next few days.”

Qiu: “Saarbrücken have the edge”

Despite the regular-season title, Qiu does not see Düsseldorf as favourites for the championship. “With that squad, Saarbrücken simply have the edge,” he said, while striking a defiant note. “It’s sport — anything can happen. And because we are Borussia Düsseldorf, we’ll give everything to challenge them for the title as much as possible.” Anyone who wants to attend the Liebherr TTBL Final4 live can find tickets via the official TTBL ticket shop.

Matchday 21 fixtures

Post SV Mühlhausen – TSV Bad Königshofen 3–0
Kay Stumper – Filip Željko 3–1 (11–8, 9–11, 13–11, 11–9)
Liao Cheng-Ting – Daniel Habesohn 3–0 (11–7, 11–6, 11–9)
Steffen Mengel – André Bertelsmeier 3–0 (11–7, 11–5, 11–8)

TTC OE Clarity-Telefonie Systeme Bad Homburg – TTF Liebherr Ochsenhausen 3–1
Jo Yokotani – Leonardo Iizuka 3–0 (11–9, 11–3, 11–7)
Ivor Ban – Iulian Chirita 0–3 (11–13, 8–11, 6–11)
Csaba Andras – Andreas Levenko 3–1 (11–6, 11–8, 9–11, 11–4)
Jo Yokotani – Iulian Chirita 3–2 (5–11, 11–6, 11–7, 8–11, 11–4)

Borussia Düsseldorf – TTC Zugbrücke Grenzau 3–0
Dang Qiu – Martin Allegro 3–1 (17–15, 9–11, 12–10, 11–8)
Li Yongyin – Samuel Walker 3–2 (7–11, 11–8, 9–11, 11–2, 11–9)
Anton Källberg – Maciej Kubik 3–2 (15–17, 11–4, 11–4, 5–11, 11–7)

1. FC Saarbrücken-TT – SV Werder Bremen 3–1
Fan Zhendong – Irvin Bertrand 3–2 (9–11, 11–4, 11–4, 9–11, 11–6)
Patrick Franziska – Kirill Gerassimenko 3–1 (9–11, 11–6, 11–4, 11–9)
Darko Jorgic – Mattias Falck 0–3 (10–12, 9–11, 8–11)
Fan Zhendong – Kirill Gerassimenko 3–0 (14–12, 11–6, 11–5)

Thursday, 16 April:
18:30: TTC RhönSprudel Fulda-Maberzell – Borussia Dortmund
19:00: ASC Grünwettersbach – TTC Schwalbe Bergneustadt

Picture: Darko Jorgic of 1. FC Saarbrücken-TT (Photo: Ulrich Höfer).