Saarbrücken unstoppable – 3:0 against Mühlhausen
1. FC Saarbrücken-Tischtennis secured a confident win in their official match on Sunday afternoon. The reigning Champions League winners celebrated a safe 3:0 win against Post SV Mühlhausen (who were weakened by absences) in their home Joachim-Deckarm-Halle to remain at the top end of the Tischtennis-Bundesliga. The away team had to manage without Steffen Mengel and Kay Stumper – a hill they were unable to climb.
The position was clear right from the outset. Saarbrücken were focused, demonstrated their superiority and allowed the Thuringians very little space to breathe. For Mühlhausen, the match was a challenge right from the very first rally, when their staffing situation took a dramatic turn at the last minute. Top performer Steffen Mengel was out with an injury, whilst Kay Stumper was unable to make it to Saarland following a car accident in London.
This is an unprecedented, exceptional situation, and all we can do is ask table tennis fans on both sides for their patience and understanding. Our thoughts are with Steffen and Kay, who definitely had a few guardian angels
Post’s manager Thomas Stecher explained on Facebook.
Post SV found an exceptional solution to be able to play at all: young 16-year-old talent Ivo Quett, who only became a senior from a table tennis perspective on Friday, joined the team for his TTBL debut. The young player, who is normally on Mühlhausen’s third-division reserve squad, was up against Eduard Ionescu – a task that is difficult enough for experienced professionals. Quett battled courageously, but never really had a chance. He lost 3:0 to the Romanian, putting Saarbrücken in the lead. For the teenager, this was an afternoon he will never forget. ‘He is a player with prospects’, Post’s coach Erik Schreyer said to Dyn after the match. ‘It is our dream to potentially get a Thuringian player into the TTBL at some point.’
Whilst Quett gained initial learning experience, things went as expected from a sporting perspective. Saarbrücken controlled proceedings without needing to up the pace unnecessarily. Nevertheless, the spectators enjoyed some top-quality table tennis, especially in the second singles match of the day. Darko Jorgic and Ovidiu Ionescu provided a duel that reflected the quality currently found in the league. Jorgic dominated for two sets, then Ionescu turned things around in the third set and ultimately forced a decider in the fourth after saving numerous match points. However, the Slovenian demonstrated his class to clinch the match – a 3:2 that increased the team’s lead to 2:0 and represented the crucial step in Saarbrücken’s win.
After the break, it was up to Patrick Franziska to bring things to a close. The FCS TT captain faced Mühlhausen’s coach Erik Schreyer, who had to turn player in this very particular situation. It became a match with numerous show moments and a clear course. Franziska, dominated, played with oversight and humour, and won match point after a little over half an hour to secure the final 3:0 score. This was the fourth win of the season for Saarland, whilst for Mühlhausen, it confirmed the difficult phase they are currently experiencing. The Thuringian team are in the middle of the table with a balanced 6:6 points, whilst Saarbrücken are within shouting distance of the top.
For FCS TT, this also marked the start of an unusual period. Superstar Fan Zhendong, who came to the club in the summer as the most spectacular new addition in their history, will be unavailable until December. The Chinese Olympic champion and world number one has national commitments to fulfil following his return to China. The fact that Saarbrücken have managed to confidently score TTBL points even without him is a good sign for Patrick Franziska.
Of course, our goal is and will still be to win matches with our top team. That needs to be our aim
the captain recently explained.
In any case, Fan Zhendong’s arrival has shone a spotlight on the team. Since the start of the season, the hype around the Chinese player has been attracting a level of attention rarely seen in the Bundesliga. Franziska described the difference:
In fact, Fan Zhendong has changed nearly everything, every home game and even every away game – but it’s cool.
This Sunday afternoon also demonstrated how much the hall has changed since the Olympic champion joined the Saarbrücken team.
1. FC Saarbrücken-TT’s ability to achieve quality play even without him demonstrates a mature structure. Franziska and Jorgic lead the team with experience and stability, Ionescu regularly supplies wins in the later doubles, and the breadth of the squad remains exceptional. ‘We talk amongst ourselves a lot, and I also spend a lot of time thinking about how we can make everything more relaxed and informal’, Franziska said. His words reflect the self-confidence of a team that have long been operating on a top European level but have to prove themselves time and again in the Bundesliga.
Nevertheless, Mühlhausen’s replacement team earned warm applause from the spectators. Ivo Quett, the birthday boy, was celebrated when he was substituted on – a small gesture that showcases the high level of respect in the Tischtennis-Bundesliga, despite all the differences. For the Thuringians, the day was a lesson in professionalism, whilst for Saarbrücken it confirmed their own ambitions. This 3:0 win fits seamlessly into a series of appearances that demonstrate how FCS TT belong at the top – composed, confident, and with the knowledge that the key weeks are still to come.
Until then, they will be aiming to put this period without Fan Zhendong to successful use.
Until then, we will try to keep playing successfully, so that we can shoot for the title with Fan
Franziska said in an interview. Things are heading in the right direction – and the team have shown that they can operate even without their superstar.