In an exciting Round of 16 clash in the German Table Tennis Cup, TSV Bad Königshofen secured their place in the quarter-finals with a 3:1 win over Post SV Mühlhausen. This victory continues Bad Königshofen's unbeaten streak this season, having already triumphed in their previous two encounters.
Both teams made strategic changes to their line-ups for this match, resulting in familiar match-ups from their recent league encounter. Despite these adjustments, the duels unfolded similarly to their previous clash.
Jin Ueda Starts Strong
The opening match saw Jin Ueda facing Irvin Bertrand. Ueda, who had performed strongly in their last meeting, continued his impressive form. Although Bertrand fought hard in the first two sets, Ueda’s mental resilience shone through. He saved two set points in the first two sets and won decisively 3:0, with scores of 12:10, 11:9, and 11:4. This early win put Mühlhausen on the back foot.
In the second singles match, Filip Zeljko squared off against Steffen Mengel. Mengel, who had lost to Zeljko in the Bundesliga, displayed a comeback performance. After losing the first set 11:9, Mengel fought back to win the next two sets 5:11 and 9:11. Zeljko leveled the score with an 11:6 win in the fourth set. The deciding set was intensely competitive, but Mengel managed to clinch it 11:9, leveling the overall match score.
Bastian Steger Dominates
The third match featured veteran Bastian Steger against Romanian Ovidiu Ionescu. Steger, now in his 25th Bundesliga season, continued his dominant form from the league, winning 3:0 with scores of 11:6, 11:7, and 11:9. His performance restored Bad Königshofen’s lead.
The final match saw Jin Ueda return to face Steffen Mengel. Despite Mengel's earlier strong showing, Ueda was in formidable form, securing a 3:0 victory with scores of 11:9, 11:6, and 11:7. This decisive win ensured Bad Königshofen’s advancement to the quarter-finals.
Reactions
Steffen Mengel expressed disappointment after the match, acknowledging Bad Königshofen's strong performance but also reflecting on Mühlhausen's inconsistent season.
We’re disappointed with the loss, but we need to be honest about our performance. We must quickly get back on track to avoid a challenging season,” Mengel stated.
In contrast, Jin Ueda was visibly relieved and pleased with his performance.
I’m very happy with the win. I adjusted my tactics and focused on improving my serve, which paid off today,” Ueda commented.
With this victory, TSV Bad Königshofen continues their impressive run in this season, setting the stage for more high-stakes matches in the coming weeks.
Source: TTBL