Fan Zhendong comes to Saarbrücken: press conference with international impact 

Eagerly awaited and now officially begun. 1. FC Saarbrücken Tischtennis‘s press conference at URSAPHARM kick-started the 2025/26 season – and demonstrated one thing above all: that Fan Zhendong’s move to Saarbrücken is more than just a sporting transfer. 

The press conference was streamed live – including at tischtennis.hylo.sport, on our YouTube channel and on YOUKU.com, the Chinese equivalent of YouTube. International interest was suitably high. 

Press conference participants 

The press conference featured: 

• Patrick Franziska
• Fan Zhendong
• Nicolas Barrois (team manager) 
• Wang Zhi (coach) 
• Boris Röder (Head of Corporate Communications at URSAPHARM) 

Press interest from China:
focus on Fan

There was huge interest from Chinese journalists. The focal point of this was Fan himself – his reasons for moving to the Bundesliga, his expectations, his preparations and his life in Saarbrücken so far. He knows the city well: he won his first World Cup title here in 2016. Now he is back – as part of a top European team. 

Settled in and ready for action 

Fan said that he had already settled in well – in training, as part of the team and into the club environment. Supported by the Chinese federation, he is focusing his full attentions on FCS TT. He plans to compete in all three competitions: Bundesliga, Cup and Champions League. According to team manager Nicolas Barrois, he is likely to play six or seven matches in the first half of the season. 

Schnitzel with Franziska: initial Fan facts 

One initial ‘Fan fact’ raised smiles: Franziska had already been out for schnitzel with Fan – and it was clearly a hit. The pair are also looking forward to working together in sporting terms. Franziska, who has been the face of FCS TT for years, will play a vital role in working together with the Chinese superstar thanks to his position as captain. 

Ticket hype and international Fan fans 

Demand for tickets and Fan merchandise is huge – and comes from all over the world. A large number of Chinese spectators are expected at the first home game on Sunday, many travelling from across Europe. Matches involving Fan are already being planned in Bad Königshofen, Bremen, and against Dortmund and Düsseldorf. The ‘classic’ against Düsseldorf on 21 December has even been moved to the Saarlandhalle to handle spectator demand. 

Concentration, performance, personality 

Fan himself wants to focus on one game at a time, put in a top performance and further develop on a personal level. He was even diplomatic in his answer to a Chinese reporter’s question about music star Taylor Swift’s engagement (Fan is evidently a fan):  

All I am interested in right now is FCS TT and the first game on Sunday. 

View from the hosts: URSAPHARM 

At the end of the press conference, the attendees were addressed by Boris Röder, Head of Corporate Communications at URSAPHARM. He fondly recalled what Erwin Berg, the FCS TT institution, had achieved since the club was first spun off and accomplished with the club so far, listing his merits. 

Röder also emphasised: ‘We are proud to be able to support elite Saarland sport in this form.’ And he added: ‘We will also be keeping a close eye via our various social media channels and continue to follow developments with exciting content and news.’ 

We are proud to be able to support elite Saarland sport in this form. 

Start of the season with Fan Zhendong: setting the stage for the first serve 

Now things begin in earnest: the TTBL season starts for FCS TT on Sunday 31 August 2025 at 2 p.m. with a home game against TTC Schwalbe Bergneustadt at the Joachim-Deckarm-Halle. 

Fan Zhendong wearing the jersey for the first time. With international prominence at the table for the first time. With spectators travelling from all over the world for the first time. 

Saarbrücken is ready. The hall will be electric.