Seven-time Champions League Men winners Borussia Düsseldorf made a significant stride toward the Final Four with a stunning victory over Alliance Nîmes/Montpellier. In a matchup featuring the formidable Félix and Alexis LEBRUN, ranked World No. 4 and No. 14 respectively, last year’s runners-up delivered an upset by sweeping the French team in straight games in the quarterfinal’s opening leg in France.
Anton KÄLLBERG set the tone by overcoming Félix LEBRUN in a thrilling five-game match, while Dang QIU defeated Alexis LEBRUN in four games. Timo BOLL, making his final competitive appearance abroad, sealed the victory with a narrow win against Esteban DORR.
“Great performance from all of us. We knew how difficult it would be. Montpellier has a very strong team with the LEBRUN brothers and DORR,” said Dang QIU. “Both Anton and Timo’s matches were very important. They won by narrow margins, and we know that if we had been forced to play a fourth match, anything could have happened. The duel could have easily finished 3-2 for the French team.”
The return leg is scheduled for February 16th, with the winner of the two-leg encounter advancing to the Final Four in Saarbrücken.
Polish KS DARTOM BOGORIA Grodzisk Mazowiecki recorded fast straight matches victory over last year’s Final 4 semi finalists, Austria’s SolexConsult TTC Wiener Neustadt. Ivor BAN was streched to full distance against Milosz REDZIMSKI and Amirezza ABBASI MONJEZI also forced Panagiotis GIONIS to go all five games, but both failed to close the match. Marek BADOWSKI sealed the match with win over Frane KOJIC.
“It is very good that we recorded a 3-0 victory against a very strong team in an away match. We played in a small venue with a heated atmosphere and gave our best. However, we are aware that the second leg will not be easy. We won two matches 3-2 after being down 1-2. The advantage is on our side, as we need only two points to reach the Final Four, but we have to stay focused,” said GIONIS.
Champions League Men quarterfinal
SolexConsult TTC Wiener Neustadt – KS DARTOM BOGORIA Grodzisk Mazowiecki 0-3
- Ivor BAN – Milosz REDZIMSKI 2-3 (6-11, 12-10, 12-10, 4-11, 4-6)
- Amirezza ABBASI MONJEZI – Panagiotis GIONIS 2-3 (7-11, 11-8, 11-8, 6-11, 2-6)
- Frane KOJIC – Marek BADOWSKI 0-3 (8-11, 12-14, 9-11)
Alliance Nîmes/Montpellier – Borussia Düsseldorf 0-3
- Félix LEBRUN – Anton KÄLLBERG 2-3 (11-8, 11-4, 9-11, 5-11, 5-6)
- Alexis LEBRUN – Dang QIU 1-3 (11-8, 10-12, 7-11, 8-11)
- Esteban DORR – Timo BOLL 2-3 (11-9, 4-11, 11-9, 6-11, 4-6)
