After an impressive start to the new season in the Table Tennis Bundesliga (TTBL), with six points from three matches, SV Werder Bremen currently sits atop the league standings. Heading into the German Cup Round of 16 against second-division side Mainz, Bremen was the clear favorite.
Unlike the previous three league matches where Gerassimenko was positioned as the team’s number one, it was Falck who led the Bremen lineup this time. Falck dominated his opening match against Ole Kaspers, securing a convincing 3-0 victory (11:6, 11:5, 11:8).
John Oyebode Pushes Bremen’s Top Players to Their Limits
Mainz's John Oyebode provided the night's most thrilling moments, facing both of Bremen's top players. In his first match, he took on Gerassimenko, who had been in excellent form with a 5-1 record in the TTBL. Despite this, Oyebode managed to take a surprising 2-1 lead. However, Gerassimenko fought back, forcing a decisive fifth set and narrowly winning 11-9.
In his second match against Falck, Oyebode once again delivered a strong performance, pushing the contest to a fifth set. But once again, Bremen emerged victorious as Falck clinched the win.
Vilardell Earns Mainz’s Lone Point
In a more one-sided contest, Vilardell gave Mainz their only point of the evening, defeating Aguirre in straight sets (11:7, 11:9, 11:6).
At the end of the Round of 16, it was SV Werder Bremen who triumphed with a 3-1 victory. The win propels them into the quarterfinals of the German Table Tennis Cup, keeping their hopes of reaching the Final Four alive.
Source: TTBL