TTF Liebherr Ochsenhausen have set an exclamation mark in the first Bundesliga play-off duel against 1 FC Saarbrücken TT! With a furious 3:0 home win, the Swabians put themselves in a brilliant starting position for the second leg in two weeks' time. And they did so at a moment that is of particular significance for two of their stars: Hugo Calderano and Simon Gauzy played in front of their home crowd for possibly the last time in a TTF jersey - and delivered a performance that more than lived up to the occasion.
Hugo Calderano opened the match with a strong performance against Yuto Muramatsu. The Brazilian controlled the match from the outset and gave the defensive specialist from Japan no chance, winning 11:8, 11:4 and 11:8. A perfect start for the home team, which was noticeably carried by the enthusiasm of the spectators.
In the second singles match, Shunsuke Togami faced Saarbrücken's top player Darko Jorgic - and after losing the first set, it initially looked like a close duel. However, the young Japanese player, who recently extended his contract in Ochsenhausen until 2026, quickly got back to his game. Togami turned the match around with 11:6, 11:7 and 11:9 and extended the lead to 2:0 - another sign of the new generation at the TTF.
Gauzy makes it 3:0
The final point was finally scored by Simon Gauzy, who defeated Patrick Franziska 3:1 in a high-class match. After Franziska won the first set, the Frenchman in the service of the TTF steadily improved. Three close sets - each with the better end for Gauzy (11:6, 11:9, 11:9) - ensured the surprisingly clear final score.
Ochsenhausen's coach Bogdan Pugna was satisfied and down to earth after the confident performance: "That's a great moment, of course. We've reached the play-offs with fantastic players in a fantastic team. Of course, we need one more win now, but in sport you should also enjoy the moment - and that's what we're doing now."
On the other side, Wang Zhi acknowledged his opponent's performance, but was combative: "The three guys from Ochsenhausen play very well and it's difficult for us to win against them. But of course we won't give up and will try to force the third and deciding game in Ochsenhausen."
Second game in Saarbrücken
With their 3:0 win, Ochsenhausen have put themselves in a great starting position. The pressure is now clearly on the Saarland side, who must win in front of their own fans on April 27 in order to force a third game. However, the team from 1. FC Saarbrücken TT has proven often enough in recent years that it can handle pressure situations very well.
Play-offs overview
TTF Liebherr Ochsenhausen - 1. FC Saarbrücken TT 3:0Hugo Calderano - Yuto Muramatsu 3:0 (11:8, 11:4, 11:8)Shunsuke Togami - Darko Jorgic 3:1 (8:11, 11:6, 11:7, 11:9)Simon Gauzy - Patrick Franziska 3:1 (7:11, 11:6, 11:9, 11:9)
Friday, 11. April, 7 p.m.: TSV Bad Königshofen vs Borussia Düsseldorf
Match 2Sunday, 27. April, 1 p.m.: Borussia Düsseldorf - TSV Bad KönigshofenSunday, April 27, 4 p.m.: 1. FC Saarbrücken TT - TTF Liebherr Ochsenhausen
Match 3Wednesday, April 30, 7 p.m.: TTF Liebherr Ochsenhausen - 1. FC Saarbrücken TTThursday, May 1, 3 p.m.: Borussia Düsseldorf - TSV Bad Königshofen
Source: Table Tennis Bundesliga (TTBL), Photo by Nicolai Schaal