The reigning ETTU Champions League holders, 1. FC Saarbrücken TT, opened their quarterfinal campaign with an away victory in France, overcoming GV Hennebont TT 3-0 and taking a strong advantage from the opening leg. The three-time Champions League winners made it clear they were leaving nothing to chance, fielding a formidable lineup that included Olympic champion FAN Zhendong, Europe’s current No. 1 Truls MOREGARD and No. 6 Patrick FRANZISKA. MOREGARD gave the guests dream start in the opening singles, defeating Vladimir SIDORENKO 3-1. After dropping the second game, the Swedish star quickly regained control to give Saarbrücken an early lead. The highlight of the evening followed in the second match, where Simon GAUZY, ranked No. 11 in Europe, pushed Olympic and World Champion FAN Zhendong to the absolute limit that thrilled the French crowd. GAUZY produced a spirited and high-quality performance, forcing the Chinese superstar into a deciding fifth game. FAN eventually prevailed 3-2, but not before being tested to the fullest by the French No. 3 in a thrilling encounter. “This was my first time playing in a Champions League quarterfinal,” said FAN Zhendong. “Today I played against Simon Gauzy, and I think we both performed at a very high level. I managed to win the match in a very difficult situation and was able to contribute to the team’s success. I’m really looking forward to the second leg at home and hope that I can keep improving my performances in the Champions League.” In the third singles, FRANZISKA underlined Saarbrücken’s experience with a straight-games victory over Lev KATSMAN, sealing a clean sweep for the German club. “We are very happy. It was a very tough away match in Hennebont, but we are delighted to come through with a 3–0 victory. Everyone was in very good shape, and now we are looking forward to the home match.I am very proud to be part of this team,” said FRANZISKA. With this convincing away success, Saarbrücken have taken a significant step toward another Final Four appearance on their home soil, while GV Hennebont TT will face a challenging task in the return leg as they attempt to overturn the deficit against the reigning champions. GV Hennebont TT (FRA)-1. FC Saarbrücken TT (GER) 0-3
Saint-Denis TT 93 and PGE Fibrain Ku AZS Politechnika Rzeszow Clinch Quarterfinal Spot (VIDEO)
Saint-Denis TT 93’s second victory of the group stage secured their place in the quarterfinals of the ETTU Champions League Women. The French side finished second in Group C after suffering two defeats against reigning champions ttc berlin eastside, while claiming two wins over Linz AG Froschberg. With three victories and one defeat, ttc berlin eastside topped the group standings, as Saint-Denis TT 93 advanced alongside them to the knockout phase. The French side secured a 3-1 home win after a series of close matches, with Prithika PAVADE once again playing a decisive role. She opened the tie with a hard-fought five-game victory over Suthasini SAWETTABUT to give Saint-Denis an early advantage. Hana ARAPOVIC then extended the lead in another dramatic encounter, edging Britt EERLAND in five games. Although Linz responded through Ivana MALOBABIC, who defeated Agathe AVEZOU in four games to keep the Austrian side in contention, Saint-Denis held their nerve in the decisive match. PAVADE returned to the table and sealed the victory with a four-game win against EERLAND, confirming Saint-Denis TT 93’s second triumph of the stage, both achieved against Linz AG Froschberg. In Group C, reigning champions ttc berlin eastside concluded Stage 2 at the top of the standings with three wins and one defeat, their only loss coming against Linz AG Froschberg. Quarterfinal places have already been secured by Group A winners KTS ENEA SIARKOPOL Tarnobrzeg and runners-up Saint-Quentin TT, as well as the top two teams from Group D, UCAM Cartagena T.M and Étival ASRTT, as the ETTU Champions League Women moves toward the knockout phase. Saint-Denis TT 93 (FRA)-Linz AG Froschberg (AUT) 3-1 Rzeszow Close Group B Campaign with Win as Metz Finish Top PGE Fibrain Ku AZS Politechnika Rzeszow closed their ETTU Champions League Women Group B campaign with a straight matches victory, overcoming ASD Quattro Mori Cagliari in the final group match. Heading into the encounter, the Italian side had recorded one win from three matches, while the Polish club were still searching for their first victory. With qualification hopes already decided, the final round produced a tight battle for positions, and Rzeszow finished Stage 2 on a positive note. Zuzanna WIELGOS gave the hosts a strong start, defeating Miriam CARNOVALE 3-1 with an assured performance. The key moment came in the second singles, where Ilona SZTWIERTNIA edged Tania PLAIAN in a dramatic five-game encounter to extend Rzeszow’s lead. The tie was sealed by LI Fen, who held her nerve in another five-game battle against MA Hengyu, winning the decisive game to complete a straight-match victory for the Polish side. In Group B, Metz TT concluded Stage 2 at the top of the standings with a flawless record of four wins from four matches, underlining their dominance and securing first place in the group. PGE Fibrain Ku AZS Politechnika Rzeszow (POL)-ASD Quattro Mori Cagliari (ITA) 3-0
El Nino Praha, Sokah Hoboken, Lille Metropole, Pontoise Cergy and Vyhne Secured Quarterfinal
SF SKK El Nino Praha completed a dominant Round of 16 performance with a convincing 3-0 home victory over Enoli Borges Vall in the second leg, confirming their place in the quarterfinals. David REITSPIES set the pace with a composed straight-games win against Francesc CARRERA, before Tomas KONECNY doubled the advantage by overcoming Joan MASIP in four games. The tie was completed without difficulty as Yevhen PRYSHCHEPA was awarded a walkover in the final singles. Petr Kaucký, coach of El Niňo Praha, reflected on the qualification:“We took an important step toward qualification already in Spain, where the opponent started with Marc Duran, but Tomáš Konečný gave him no chance. We didn’t know that our opponents would be able to field only two players, which allowed them to play a bit more freely. Last season we reached the final, and now we are in the quarterfinals. It’s great news for our fans, who will once again have the opportunity to see top-quality players in action.” Return leg SF SKK El Nino Praha – Enoli Borges Vall 3–0 Opening leg Enoli Borges Vall – SF SKK El Nino Praha 0-3 Sokah Hoboken Advance to Face El Nino Praha TTC Sokah Hoboken secured their place in the quarterfinals, where they will meet SF SKK El Nino Praha, after recorded victory over UTTC Paneceo Stockerau. Following a 3-1 away victory in the opening leg in Austria, the Belgian side left no room for doubt in the return match, recording a dominant 3-0 win at home to seal progression among the last eight. Remi BETELU set the tone with a solid 3-1 victory over Aidos KENZIGULOV, before Benjamin BROSSIER extended Hoboken’s lead with another four-game success against Mykhailo LOVHA. The tie was completed in style as Quentin ROBINOT delivered a dominant straight-games win over David SERDAROGLU, underlining Hoboken’s strength on home soil. Return leg TTC Sokah Hoboken – UTTC Paneceo Stockerau 3-0 Opening leg UTTC Paneceo Stockerau – TTC Sokah Hoboken 1-3 Pontoise Cergy Set Up Quarterfinal Clash with Roskilde AS Pontoise Cergy TT also booked their place in the quarterfinals of the ETTU Europe Cup, where they will face Roskilde Bordtennis BTK 61. In the Round of 16 they overcame 3-0 SolexConsult TTC Wiener Neustadt in the second leg. Having edged the opening leg 3-2 at home, the French side delivered a composed and authoritative performance in Austria to remove any doubts about their progression. Thomas LAROCHE led the way, surviving a dramatic five-game battle against Piotr CYRNEK after coming back from two games down. Alexandre CASSIN then doubled the advantage with a straight-games win over Peter HRIBAR, showing great composure in the tight moments. The match was sealed by Flavio MOURIER, who produced a commanding performance to defeat Jürgen MULLNER in straight games. Return leg SolexConsult TTC Wiener Neustadt – AS Pontoise Cergy TT 0–3 Opening leg AS Pontoise Cergy TT (FRA) – SolexConsult TTC Wiener Neustadt (AUT) 3–2 Lille Metropole TT Seal Quarterfinal Spot with Confident Win in Havirov Lille Metropole TT confirmed their place in the quarterfinals with a 3-0 away victory over SKST Havirov, completing a Round of 16 tie without dropping a match. In the next stage they will meet STK Vyhne. After winning the opening leg 3-0 at home, the French side showed the same level of control in Havirov. Fabio RAKOTOARIMANANA set the tone with a composed straight-games win against Michal BLINKA, handling the key moments well despite resistance from the home player, particularly in the second game. Tom CLOSSET then doubled Lille’s advantage with another solid 3-0 performance, this time against Daniel KOSTAL, before Romain BRARD closed the tie in emphatic fashion by defeating Jakub MAKARA in straight games to seal a clean sweep for the visitors. SKST Havirov-Lille Metropole TT 0-3 Opening leg Lille Metropole TT (FRA) – SKST Havirov (CZE) 3-0 STK Vyhne Snatch Narrow 3-2 Away Win in Białystok STK Vyhne edged Dojlidy Białystok 3-2 in a close away encounter, deciding the tie in the final match. The visitors took an early advantage through Adam KLAJBER and Filip SZYMANSKI, before the hosts responded thanks to a dominant win by Piotr CHODORSKI. Patryk CHOJNOWSKI then levelled the score with a solid four-game victory, setting up a decisive final match. In the closing match, KLAJBER returned to overcome Piotr MICHALSKI, sealing the win for STK Vyhne. Dojlidy Białystok-STK Vyhne 2-3 Opening leg STK Vyhne – Dojlidy Białystok 3-1
Priego Seal Quarterfinal Spot to Set Up Clash with HB Ostrov z.s.
Real Club Cajasur Priego TM booked their place in the quarterfinals of the ETTU Europe Cup, where they will face reigning champions HB Ostrov z.s, after overturning a narrow deficit from the opening leg with a convincing 3–1 home victory over ASD Marcozzi Cagliari. After losing the first leg 3–2 in Italy, the Spanish side delivered a strong performance in Priego de Córdoba, winning the tie on aggregate and confirming their progression among the last eight. Real Club Cajasur Priego TM made an excellent start in the return leg as Hampus SODERLUND put the hosts in front with a hard-fought 3–1 victory over Jeet CHANDRA. The Swede showed great resilience, especially in the tight fourth game, which he edged 15–13 to give Priego early momentum. Veteran Carlos MACHADO then extended the lead with a commanding straight-games win against Carlo ROSSI, displaying his experience and control in key moments to put the Spanish side firmly in charge of the tie. Marcozzi responded through Federico VALLINO, who produced a convincing 3–0 victory over Alejandro CALVO to keep the Italian club in contention and briefly revive hopes of another dramatic outcome. However, Priego’s progress was sealed in the fourth singles, as SODERLUND returned to the table and defeated ROSSI 3–1. Real Club Cajasur Priego TM – ASD Marcozzi Cagliari 3–1 Opening leg ASD Marcozzi Cagliari – Real Club Cajasur Priego TM 3–2
Bogoria Take Early Advantage in All-Polish Champions League Quarterfinal
KS Orlen Bogoria Grodzisk Mazowiecki claimed a valuable 3–1 away victory over KS Bank Spółdzielczy Orlicz 1924 Suchedniów in the opening leg of the ETTU Champions League Men quarterfinals. Both clubs played in the ETTU Champions League Final 4 last year. The quarterfinal tie opened with a high-quality duel between Deni KOZUL and Marek BADOWSKI. In a tightly contested match, BADOWSKI edged the Slovenian 3-2, with fine margins deciding the outcome in the decider and giving Bogoria an important early lead. Suchedniów responded immediately through Seungmin CHO, who delivered an impressive performance to defeat Miłosz REDZIMSKI 3-1. The Korean was sharp and composed, thriving in the lively atmosphere created by the home crowd to level the score. Bogoria regained the advantage in the third singles, where Panagiotis GIONIS overcame Mateusz ZALEWSKI 3–1. The Greek international made a strong start, taking the opening two games convincingly. ZALEWSKI then raised his level and claimed the third, but GIONIS remained calm and focused to close out a crucial point for the visitors. The decisive moment came in the fourth match, as REDZIMSKI produced a superb performance to defeat KOZUL 3-2 in a thrilling encounter. With both players pushing each other to the limit and the match going to the deciding system, REDZIMSKI showed great composure and quality to secure Bogoria’s 3–1 victory. “We knew from the start that we had to stay very focused,” said GIONIS. “They have KOZUL, one of the best players in the world, CHO, who is an amazing player, and ZALEWSKI, a young Polish player who is improving very fast and played extremely well today. “BADOWSKI started very well and won a very close match where the small details made the difference. REDZIMSKI was also in great shape against CHO, and it is always difficult to play in such a hot atmosphere. My match was important for the rest of the tie, and after ZALEWSKI came back strongly, it was crucial for me to stay calm and focused. “Finally, REDZIMSKI played an unbelievable match against KOZUL and showed his level. This victory is very important for us, but it is only the first step. The second leg will also be very tough, especially at home.” KS Bank Spółdzielczy Orlicz 1924 Suchedniów (POL) – KS Orlen Bogoria Grodzisk Mazowiecki 1–3
HB Ostrov z.s. Book Quarterfinal Place; TTC Sokah Hoboken won the thriller
The ETTU Europe Cup reigning champions secured their place in the quarterfinals as HB Ostrov z.s. recorded a 3-1 home victory over Energa Manekin Toruń, repeating their success from the opening leg of the Round of 16. The hosts made a strong start, with Pavel SIRUCEK delivering a dominant performance to defeat Stepan VOLKOV in straight games and give the Czech side an early lead. Energa Manekin Toruń responded through Dimitrije LEVAJAC, who edged Tomáš TREGLER in a tight five-game battle to level the score. HB Ostrov regained the advantage in the third singles, where Jiří VRABLIK outlasted Konrad KULPA in another closely contested five-game encounter, putting the hosts 2–1 ahead. In the fourth match, SIRUCEK returned to the table against LEVAJAC, but the encounter was cut short when the Serbian player was forced to retire due to injury. HB Ostrov z.s. were consequently awarded the match, sealing the overall 3-1 victory and confirming their progression to the quarterfinals. “We had a clear tactical plan,” said Pavel SIRUCEK. “We knew the opponent needed at least a 3–1 win to have a chance to advance, so we expected young Stepan VOLKOV to play the opening singles. That’s why I’m very glad I managed to start well and secure the first point. “The match between Tomáš TREGLER and Dimitrije LEVAJAC was very even, and Tomáš was very close to winning it. The decisive encounter, however, was between Jiří VRÁBLÍK and Konrad KULPA – everything was at stake there. Jiří managed it, and we are moving on. “It’s a pity for the spectators that LEVAJAC was slightly injured and couldn’t continue, but of course that doesn’t change our qualification,” he added. HB Ostrov z.s. – Energa Manekin Toruń 3-1 Opening leg Energa Manekin Toruń (POL) – HB Ostrov z.s. (CZE) 1–3 Sokah Hoboken Take Narrow Away Win TTC Sokah Hoboken claimed a narrow 2–1 away victory over UTTC Paneceo Stockerau in the opening leg of the Round of 16. The Belgian side took the lead through Quentin ROBINOT, who defeated Khalid ASSAR in straight games. Stockerau responded as Mykhailo LOVHA edged Benjamin BROSSIER in a tense five-game encounter, but Sokah Hoboken regained the advantage thanks to Max RADIVEN, who overcame David SERDAROGLU. With the tie decided, both teams shared wins in the remaining matches, leaving everything open ahead of the return leg. UTTC Paneceo Stockerau – TTC Sokah Hoboken 1-2
UCAM Cartagena T.M March into Quarterfinals with Perfect Record (VIDEO)
UCAM Cartagena T.M concluded Stage 2 of the ETTU Champions League Women unbeaten, finishing at the top of Group D and securing a place in the quarterfinals after winning all four of their matches. Even with their leading position already assured, the Spanish club showed no mercy in the final round. UCAM Cartagena T.M edged TTC Novi Sad 3-2 in a closely fought away encounter, sealing the victory in the decisive fifth match despite a brave performance from the hosts. Étival ASRTT (FRA) finished the group phase in second place, while TTC Novi Sad occupied third position. The hosts made a strong start as Reka BEZEG delivered a dominant 3-0 win over Daniela ORTEGA. The Spanish side responded immediately, with Fei QI defeating Aneta MAKSUTI in straight games to level the tie. Novi Sad then regained the lead through Sara RADAK, who recorded a solid 3–1 victory against Angela RODRIGUEZ. “We are very happy with today’s win. It was a very hard match. Personally, I did not start well and I was lacking confidence, but in the decisive match I managed to find my confidence again and eventually win. I’m very happy about that. I’m also very happy for my team because we finished in first position and secured our place in the quarterfinals. This makes us very proud,” said Daniela ORTEGA. UCAM Cartagena T.M kept their composure in the closing stages. QI returned to overcome BEZEG 3–0, levelling the tie, before ORTEGA secured the overall victory with a straight-games win against MAKSUTI to conclude a tight and competitive team match. With this result, UCAM Cartagena T.M and Étival ASRTT advance to the quarterfinals alongside Group A winners KTS ENEA SIARKOPOL Tarnobrzeg and runners-up Saint-Quentin TT. TTC Novi Sad (SRB) – UCAM Cartagena T.M (ESP) 2-3
Roskilde Bordtennis BTK 61 Secure Quarterfinal Spot
Danish club Roskilde Bordtennis BTK 61 booked their place in the ETTU Europe Cup quarterfinals after completing a successful tie against ASC Grünwettersbach, sealing qualification with a 3-1 victory in the return leg in Germany. Having claimed a strong 3-1 home win in the opening leg, Roskilde arrived in Grünwettersbach knowing that two match wins would be sufficient to progress. The Danish side delivered exactly that, taking control early and confirming their passage to the next stage despite a spirited effort from the hosts. Notably, both teams began their European club campaign this season in Stage 1 of the ETTU Champions League Men. In the return leg, Tobias RASMUSSEN gave Roskilde the perfect start by defeating Tobias HIPPLER 3-1, before Jens LUNDQVIST added a second point with a composed straight-games victory over Damian FLORO. Those two wins mathematically secured qualification for the visitors. ASC Grünwettersbach responded through Divyansh SRIVASTAVA, who edged Anders ERIKSSON in a tight five-game battle to claim the hosts’ only point on the day. However, LUNDQVIST returned to the table to close the tie in style, overcoming HIPPLER in straight games and confirming a 3-1 away win. Return leg ASC Grünwettersbach – Roskilde Bordtennis BTK 61 1–3 Opening leg Roskilde Bordtennis BTK 61 (DEN) – ASC Grünwettersbach (GER) 3–1
Saint-Quentin TT Clinch Quarterfinal Spot as Group A Concludes
The duels in Group A of Stage 2 of the ETTU Champions League Women have been completed, with top seeds KTS ENEA SIARKOPOL Tarnobrzeg living up to expectations and finishing at the top of the group. Saint-Quentin TT joined them in the quarterfinals after a crucial away victory in Spain. Saint-Quentin TT claimed a convincing 3–0 win over MIRÓ Ganxets Costa Durada, delivering three strong performances to secure second place in the group and, with it, a quarterfinal berth. The Spanish side also recorded one win in the group, having previously defeated the French club 3–1 at home, but it was Saint-Quentin who prevailed when it mattered most. The visitors took the lead through Linda BERGSTROM, who recovered after losing the opening game to defeat Olga VOROBEVA 3–1. BERGSTROM gradually imposed her rhythm and edged three closely contested games to put Saint-Quentin ahead. Andrea TODOROVIC gave the home team early hope by taking the first game against Polina MIKHAILOVA, but the French player responded decisively. MIKHAILOVA controlled the rallies in the following games, turning the match around to double the advantage for the visitors. Camille LUTZ then sealed the clean sweep with a straight-games win over Anastasia KOLISH. A tense opening game, won 17–15 by LUTZ, proved pivotal, after which she maintained her momentum to confirm a flawless team victory. Reflecting on the pressure of the encounter, LUTZ said: “It’s of course a relief. We knew we had to win 3–0 to be sure of qualifying. This match felt like a round of 16. We wanted to continue our journey in the Champions League, so we are super happy with this win.” MIRÓ Ganxets Costa Durada (ESP) – Saint-Quentin TT (FRA) 0–3
LEBRUN brothers inspire Nîmes/Montpellier victory (VIDEO)
Alliance Nîmes/Montpellier took an important step towards the Final Four of the ETTU Champions League Men, recording a 3–1 home victory over KS Dekorglass Działdowo in the opening leg of the quarterfinals, inspired by an outstanding performance from Felix LEBRUN. The French side made a flying start as Felix LEBRUN dominated Samuel KULCZYCKI in straight games to give the hosts an early advantage. Momentum continued with Alexis LEBRUN, who controlled his match against Hou YINGCHAO to double the lead. The Polish team responded in the third match, with Jakub DYJAS proving too strong for Antoine HACHARD to keep Działdowo in contention. However, Felix LEBRUN returned to the table to close the tie in style, overcoming Hou YINGCHAO in four games and securing a valuable 3–1 victory ahead of the return leg in Poland. “It was a very good win for my team. We expected a very tough match because normally PUCAR, DYJAS, KULCZYCKI and YINGCHAO form a very strong lineup. Honestly, we were happy not to see PUCAR when they arrived in Montpellier,” said the Alliance Nîmes/Montpellier coach Vincent AVRIL. “We played a very good match overall. Alexis and Felix were excellent against the Chinese defender, with truly impressive performances. Felix was extremely well prepared for his opening duel against KULCZYCKI, ready from the first point, and in the end it became quite a comfortable win. Alexis then faced the defender, and we know he is very strong against that style, so the second match was also relatively straightforward. In the third match, we expected a tough battle because DYJAS is probably their second-best player. Antoine had a so-so performance, but DYJAS played very well and deserved the win. Felix then returned for the fourth match and, after a very intense fight, managed to beat YINGCHAO. That point was extremely important , winning 3–1 is very different from winning 3–2 in the Champions League,” stated AVRIL. Coach AVRIL look forward return leg scheduled for February. “Now we need only two points in the second leg to qualify for the Final Four. We are extremely happy with this performance and with the level shown by all our players. We can’t wait for the return match and the chance to reach the first Final Four in the club’s history.” Alliance Nîmes/Montpellier (FRA) – KS Dekorglass Dzialdowo (POL) 3–1
