Bundesliga

The first defeat is in the books: after six wins to start the season, TTF Liebherr Ochsenhausen suffered their first loss on Matchday 7 of the TTBL. TTC OE Clarity-Telefonie Systeme Bad Homburg won 3–1 away against the Swabians. At the same time, 1. FC Saarbrücken-TT claimed a 3–1 victory at ASC Grünwettersbach, who remain without a home win. At the bottom of the table, TTC Schwalbe Bergneustadt created some breathing room with a 3–1 win at TSV Bad Königshofen.

After six consecutive victories, TTF Liebherr Ochsenhausen finally had to congratulate an opponent. The team were forced to improvise with their line-up: alongside Iulian Chirita and Daniel Berzosa, even head coach Bogdan Pugna took to the table. Chirita initially put the hosts ahead with a comfortable 3–0 win over Finn Luu, but Bad Homburg took control from there. “I can’t fault our team, we tried everything,” TTF team manager Manuel Pfender said after the 1–3 defeat.

Once again, Csaba Andras emerged as the matchwinner. The Hungarian first beat Pugna in straight sets before Juan Perez added Hesse’s second point with a 3–1 victory over Berzosa. In the battle of the No. 1s, Andras then sealed the away win against Chirita. “It was a tough match against Iulian. We’ve been playing each other since we were kids. He’s a very good player,” the 24-year-old said afterwards.

The two victories improved Andras’ already outstanding TTBL record to 11–2, putting him top of the individual rankings. He was not interested in being singled out within the team, however. “There’s no secret. But I’m not a star,” Andras said. “I’d like to maintain this form and keep helping my team.” Ochsenhausen’s perfect start, meanwhile, ends after six wins. Record champions Borussia Düsseldorf are now the only unbeaten team left in the TTBL.

Bergneustadt claim crucial points in Bad Königshofen

TTC Schwalbe Bergneustadt picked up important points in the Matchday 7 battle at the bottom against TSV Bad Königshofen. While the Bavarians had already failed to secure survival on their own merits last season, the lower reaches of the table are unfamiliar territory for Bergneustadt after finishing third last year. “There’s a saying: ‘When you’ve got shit on your shoe, you’ve got shit on your shoe’,” Benedikt Duda told Dyn after the 3–1 victory, referring to TTC’s poor start. With his own negative 6–7 record, he admitted he had also failed so far to live up to the “expectations of being the club’s top player”.

On Sunday afternoon, however, Duda immediately made amends. Somewhat surprisingly, the Germany international opened the match as the No. 2 against Bastian Steger. “I don’t actually like playing against Basti,” Duda admitted, but he carried the momentum from the WTT Champions in Frankfurt into the match and won convincingly 3–0. Filip Željko responded with a straight-sets win over Romain Ruiz before Cedric Meissner restored the visitors’ lead with a 3–1 victory over André Bertelsmeier. In the battle of the No. 1s, Ruiz then sealed the away win with a 3–1 success against Steger.

The victory gives Bergneustadt some breathing room near the bottom. TTC now sit 10th on 4–10 points, while Bad Königshofen remain bottom on 2–12 and are the only TTBL team with just two points. Despite their second win of the season, Duda was not yet ready to call it a turnaround. “It’s not a breakthrough, but it gives us a brief chance to breathe.”

Saarbrücken win as Bluhm celebrates first TTBL victory

ASC Grünwettersbach are still waiting for their first home win of the season after a 1–3 defeat against defending champions 1. FC Saarbrücken-TT. Hugo Calderano put the visitors ahead with a convincing 3–0 victory over Tom Jarvis before Florian Bluhm delivered the highlight from an ASC perspective. The 30-year-old edged Eduard Ionescu in five sets to celebrate his first ever TTBL victory.

“He adjusted much better to my balls and for two and a half sets I basically had no chance at all. I don’t really know how, but somehow I fought my way back into the match and managed to turn the fourth set around. Then he became nervous and rushed things. My first TTBL win – that’s always special,” Bluhm said.

The equaliser raised the temperature inside the ASC Arena, but Saarbrücken remained composed. Álvaro Robles restored the visitors’ lead with a 3–1 victory over Tobias Hippler. “We knew Grünwettersbach wouldn’t be at full strength. Once Florian made it 1–1, the atmosphere became very intense,” the Spaniard said. “I was very happy with my performance because he fought hard and it wasn’t easy.”

Ionescu then recovered from his defeat against Bluhm in the final singles. The Romanian needed five sets against Jarvis, but ultimately secured the decisive third point for Saarbrücken. FCS remain among the leading group on 10–4 points, while Grünwettersbach stay on 4–10 and are still waiting for their first home win after Matchday 7.

Matchday 7 fixtures

TSV Bad Königshofen – TTC Schwalbe Bergneustadt 1–3
Bastian Steger – Benedikt Duda 0–3 (9–11, 7–11, 6–11)
Filip Željko – Romain Ruiz 3–0 (11–2, 11–7, 11–8)
André Bertelsmeier – Cedric Meissner 1–3 (12–10, 15–17, 8–11, 7–11)
Bastian Steger – Romain Ruiz 1–3 (9–11, 10–12, 11–9, 7–11)

ASC Grünwettersbach – 1. FC Saarbrücken-TT 1–3
Tom Jarvis – Hugo Calderano 0–3 (10–12, 9–11, 7–11)
Florian Bluhm – Eduard Ionescu 3–2 (11–6, 3–11, 4–11, 11–9, 11–8)
Tobias Hippler – Álvaro Robles 1–3 (6–11, 11–9, 8–11, 9–11)
Tom Jarvis – Eduard Ionescu 2–3 (7–11, 11–9, 11–4, 8–11, 8–11)

TTF Liebherr Ochsenhausen – TTC OE Clarity-Telefonie Systeme Bad Homburg 1–3
Iulian Chirita – Finn Luu 3–0 (11–3, 11–7, 11–7)
Bogdan Pugna – Csaba Andras 0–3 (2–11, 5–11, 3–11)
Daniel Berzosa – Juan Perez 1–3 (11–13, 11–7, 8–11, 7–11)
Iulian Chirita – Csaba Andras 1–3 (4–11, 12–10, 9–11, 5–11)

Monday, 9 November:
19:00: TTC Zugbrücke Grenzau – Borussia Düsseldorf

Tuesday, 10 November:
19:00: Post SV Mühlhausen – TTC RhönSprudel Fulda-Maberzell

Wednesday, 11 November:
19:00: SV Werder Bremen – Borussia Dortmund

All matches are streamed live on Dyn.

Photo: Csaba Andras of TTC OE Clarity-Telefonie Systeme Bad Homburg (photo: TTC OE Clarity-Telefonie Systeme Bad Homburg).