Hugo Calderano's return proved decisive as TTF Liebherr Ochsenhausen secured their first victory of the season in the Table Tennis Bundesliga (TTBL) with a 3-1 triumph over Borussia Dortmund on Friday. Calderano, the world No. 3, made an immediate impact, playing a crucial role in the win after missing the first two matches of the season.
Despite an early setback when Dortmund’s Li Yongyin defeated Shunsuke Togami 3-0 (11:9, 11:4, 11:9), Calderano quickly leveled the score by overcoming Cedric Nuytinck 3-1 (10:12, 11:8, 11:6, 11:4). Calderano’s second appearance of the evening was even more dominant, as he outclassed Li Yongyin 3-0 (11:7, 12:10, 11:6), securing the match for Ochsenhausen. Simon Gauzy also contributed with a straightforward 3-0 (11:4, 11:7, 11:5) win over Simon Berglund.
For Borussia Dortmund, this was their third loss in four matches, leaving them with a 2-6 points record. Despite their recent strong showing in the German Cup, where they narrowly lost to 1. FC Saarbrücken TT, they were unable to match Ochsenhausen's firepower with Calderano and Gauzy back in action.
When Ochsenhausen plays with their full squad, they are one of the top three teams in the Bundesliga," said Nuytinck post-match, acknowledging his opponents' strength.
Ochsenhausen’s victory not only boosts their confidence after two early-season defeats but also sets them up for a chance to level their season points in an upcoming makeup match against TTC Zugbrücke Grenzau on Monday.
Source: Table Tennis Bundesliga (TTBL)