International
Champions League: Düsseldorf takes the lead in Mühlhausen
Borussia Düsseldorf has its sights set on the Champions League semifinals: Last year's finalist won the first leg of the Table Tennis Bundesliga (TTBL) internal duel at Post SV Mühlhausen 3-0 on Wednesday evening. On Sunday, 1. FC Saarbrücken TT will face GV Hennebont TT.
Borussia Düsseldorf has made it to the Champions League final five times in a row in recent years, and the record winner is also performing at its best in the current season. After winning 3-0 in the first leg, Düsseldorf can now even afford a 2-3 defeat in the quarterfinal return leg on February 13 at the ARAG CenterCourt. “I'm really happy about the 3-0 win,” said Borussia coach Danny Heister. “Everyone did a really good job and didn't let themselves get rattled.”
Kanak Jha opened the door for the clear victory in the opening singles match. With a 6-2 win in the shortened fifth set to secure a 3-2 victory over Lin Gaoyuan, the American broke the deadlock for the visitors. “That was a great game by Kanak and laid the foundation for success,” Heister said afterwards. The other victories came from Dang Qiu, who beat Steffen Mengel 3-2, and Anton Källberg, who beat Marcos Freitas 3-0.
With 1. FC Saarbrücken TT, another team from the Table Tennis Bundesliga (TTBL) has reached the quarterfinals. The cup winner will face GV Hennebont TT in France in the first leg on Sunday.
Champions League: The quarterfinals at a glance
Leg 1
Post SV Mühlhausen – Borussia Düsseldorf 0:3
Lin Gaoyuan – Kanak Jha 2:3 (9:11, 8:11, 11:9, 11:7, 2:6)
Steffen Mengel – Dang Qiu 2:3 (9:11, 5:11, 11:9, 11:8, 2:6)
Marcos Freitas – Anton Källberg 0:3 (11:13, 7:11, 13:15)
Thursday, January 15: Alliance Nimes/Montpellier – KS Dekorglass Dzialdowo
Saturday, January 17: KS Bank Spoldzielczy Orlicz Suchedniow – KS Orlen Bogoria Grodzisk Mazowiecki
Sunday, January 18: GV Hennebont TT – 1. FC Saarbrücken TT
Leg 2
Thursday, February 12: KS Orlen Bogoria Grodzisk Mazowiecki – KS Bank Spoldzielczy Orlicz Suchedniow
Friday, February 13: 1. FC Saarbrücken TT – GV Hennebont TT
Friday, February 13: Borussia Düsseldorf – Post SV Mühlhausen
Sunday, February 15: KS Dekorglass Dzialdowo – Alliance Nimes/Montpellier
Header photo: Borussia Düsseldorf's Kanak Jha
