Germany needed full five matches against France in the quarterfinal before secured the medal rostrum in the Men’s Teams Event at the 2022 ITTF World team Championships Finals in Chengdu.
France had a better start with both Alexis and Felix LEBRUN won their respective matches against Benedikt DUDA and QIU Dang. In the opening match DUDA lost to Alexis 2-3 but beat Felix in the decisive match 3-0.
“I was feeling very good on the court today. I was playing a very aggressive and good match. At my match points I got a little bit unlucky especially in the fourth and fifth games. But this is sport sometimes you have luck and unluck. It was a tough defeat for me. I was a little bit angry about myself but I know we will come back in the end. I will get my fifth match. I have to focus again ” explained DUDA. “It was an incredible feeling. There was a match left and I’m just happy that I could win against Felix. He is an uprising star in table tennis and I know if I get my mind cool and clear then I could win this match. I was happy I could do it.”
QIU Dang suffered the defeat against Felix (FRA) 1-3 and beat Alexis 3-1.
“Today they were both fiery at the beginning. They were on fire very much especially Felix and Alexis they played very well. Felix played unbelievably today. I cannot play myself I didn’t make too many unforced errors or easy mistakes he just performed well. In the beginning the first two games were crucial I lost both of them by a very close score. And like Benedikt said maybe luck was a bit on their side but in the end we know we have to prepare for the next matches we are getting. And then Kay won 3-1. I was happy that I could go back on court and prove myself again. I didn’t feel I played much better in the 4th match. Felix was very strong today. We are now in the semifinals. It’s already a big achievement for us but we will still fight in the semifinals because we’re not done yet. Despite being all young and maybe a bit unexperienced in the World championships stage we still prove ourselves and the Germany is a very strong table tennis nation and powerhouse. We have a lot of good players and we got a chance this time. We’re happy to be in the semifinals.”
Kay STUMPER changed the course of the match with the win over Jules ROLLAND after Germany was down 0-2.
“I feel good. I think if I can play well I can be undefeated. I hope that we can win again tomorrow. I watched the matches of my teammates the first and second match we lost was very unlucky. So I knew ROLLAND will be very focused motivated and aggressive. In the first game I felt that luck against me 3 or 4 times so I lost it very close. Then I felt the pressure but managed it pretty well. I kept fighting and calming. I know if I can win the match I will trust my teammates that we have a good chance to win the match ” said STUMPER.
In the quarterfinal of the Men’s Event Japan prevailed against Portugal in four matches whilst China beat Sweden. In the semi final of the Women’s Event Germany suffered by the hands of Japan’s players.
