Bundesliga

On the TTBL’s return from its autumn break following the European Championships in Slovenia, Post SV Mühlhausen claimed an important victory in the battle at the bottom away at TTC Schwalbe Bergneustadt. The Thuringians edged the Matchday 6 encounter 3–2 after the deciding doubles to celebrate their second win of the season. For last season’s play-off team Bergneustadt, however, the hoped-for turnaround after the break failed to materialise.

A TTBL classic under unusual circumstances: last season, TTC Schwalbe Bergneustadt were still competing for the German championship in the play-offs, but things have not gone according to plan for head coach Frederik Duda’s team so far this campaign. The North Rhine-Westphalia club managed just one win from their opening five matches. Post SV Mühlhausen have likewise been unable to build on their strong finish to last season, which carried the Thuringians all the way to fifth place. That made a victory particularly important for both clubs on their return from the TTBL break for the European Championships.

Duda still with a negative record

For the hosts, star player Benedikt Duda was hoping to carry over the momentum from the European Championships in Slovenia, where the Bergneustadt academy product had been crowned mixed doubles European champion alongside Nina Mittelham. But the harsh reality of everyday TTBL competition quickly returned: Duda lost 1–3 to Ovidiu Ionescu, already his seventh singles defeat of the season. Given their previous meetings, the Romanian viewed the victory as a pleasant surprise. “He has won significantly more often, I’m sure of that,” Ionescu told Dyn. “Today I was a little lucky as well. Unfortunately, that’s sport.”

For Ionescu, his opponent’s negative 5–7 record is no indication of his actual level. “Benedikt Duda is a top player. Just look at the level he showed at the European Championships. He can beat anyone. The Bundesliga is so evenly matched that you can win or lose against anyone.”

A curious incident after the Thuringian’s four-set victory provided another talking point. Following the interval with the score level at 1–1, there were discussions between the Mühlhausen camp and the match officials. One of the umpires had apparently heard head coach Erik Schreyer say the word “timeout” several times and charged Ionescu with a timeout that neither the player nor his coach had intended to take. “I still don’t understand what happened,” Ionescu said afterwards. “It’s in the past, and the important thing is that we won.”

Stumper injured

The second singles of the evening was not without incident either. Kay Stumper required a medical timeout during his match against Romain Ruiz. The young Germany international was able to finish the contest against the Frenchman, but was visibly hampered in his 1–3 defeat. Stumper did not return for his second singles and was replaced by Steffen Mengel, who had little chance against Duda and lost in straight sets.

Duda’s victory at the second attempt forced the deciding doubles. Before that, Marcos Freitas had put the visitors 2–1 ahead with a strong 3–1 win over Cedric Meissner.

Ruiz on doubles struggles: “We have to find solutions”

In the doubles, the Post SV pairing of Ionescu/Freitas came out on top. Meissner and Adrien Rassenfosse were beaten in three convincing sets and had to congratulate their opponents on the overall victory. It was already Bergneustadt’s third defeat in a deciding doubles this season, a weakness Ruiz addressed critically on Dyn. “We know the situation isn’t good,” the Frenchman said, calling on the team to “find solutions for the doubles” because “so far, it hasn’t worked”.

A turnaround is urgently needed, with Bergneustadt occupying one of the bottom two places in the TTBL after six matches. Next up is a crucial encounter away at TSV Bad Königshofen. TSV have also won just once so far and currently sit bottom of the table. Post SV did not climb in the standings and remain 10th, but the victory kept them firmly in touch with the mid-table pack.

Matchday 6 fixtures

TTC Schwalbe Bergneustadt – Post SV Mühlhausen 2–3
Benedikt Duda – Ovidiu Ionescu 1–3 (10–12, 11–7, 10–12, 6–11)
Romain Ruiz – Kay Stumper 3–1 (9–11, 12–10, 11–7, 11–8)
Cedric Meissner – Marcos Freitas 1–3 (7–11, 3–11, 11–8, 9–11)
Benedikt Duda – Steffen Mengel 3–0 (11–6, 11–5, 11–9)
Meissner/Rassenfosse – Ionescu/Freitas 0–3 (8–11, 9–11, 6–11)

Borussia Düsseldorf – Borussia Dortmund 3–1
Fan Zhendong – João Geraldo 3–0 (13–11, 12–10, 11–9)
Kanak Jha – Wim Verdonschot 1–3 (6–11, 5–11, 11–5, 10–12)
Dang Qiu – Kristian Karlsson 3–1 (9–11, 11–3, 12–10, 11–5)
Fan Zhendong – Wim Verdonschot 3–1 (11–5, 6–11, 11–7, 13–11)

ASC Grünwettersbach – TTC Zugbrücke Grenzau 2–3
Ricardo Walther – Martin Allegro 3–0 (11–9, 11–6, 11–9)
Tiago Apolonia – Liam Pitchford 0–3 (8–11, 5–11, 7–11)
Tom Jarvis – Maciej Kubik 3–1 (11–8, 11–13, 11–5, 11–8)
Ricardo Walther – Liam Pitchford 1–3 (6–11, 12–14, 12–10, 5–11)
Apolonia/Hippler – Kubik/Allegro 2–3 (12–14, 5–11, 12–10, 11–2, 9–11)

1. FC Saarbrücken-TT – TSV Bad Königshofen 3–1
Hugo Calderano – Andre Bertelsmeier 3–0 (11–6, 11–5, 11–9)
Eduard Ionescu – Daniel Habesohn 3–2 (7–11, 11–6, 7–11, 11–4, 11–5)
Patrick Franziska – Bastian Steger 2–3 (9–11, 9–11, 11–5, 11–2, 8–11)
Hugo Calderano – Daniel Habesohn 3–0 (11–3, 11–5, 11–5)

Saturday, 24 October:
19:00: TTC RhönSprudel Fulda-Maberzell – TTF Liebherr Ochsenhausen

Monday, 2 November:
19:00: TTC OE Clarity-Tel.Syst.Bad Homburg – SV Werder Bremen

All matches are streamed live on Dyn.

The current TTBL standings can be found here.

Photo: Ovidiu Ionescu of Post SV Mühlhausen (photo: BeLa Sportfoto).