2019 ITTF World Tour Platinum China Open
On the third day of action at the Seamaster 2019 ITTF World Tour Platinum China Open in Shenzhen Germany’s Timo BOLL and Patrick FRANZISKA struck gold after they overcame crowned Men’s Doubles champions at the LIEBHERR 2019 World Championships just over a month ago China’s MA Long and WANG Chuqin. They did it in superb style – in straight games (11-8 11-7 11-5).
“I’m happy to become the champion as out opponents are the strongest players in the World. I’m quite happy that we defeated the World champions. In the final we performed quite well. Timo and I have been playing for long and he has helped me a lot in my table tennis career. I have learnt a lot from him and he’s also my good friend ” said Patrick FRANZISKA.
Even national coach Jorg ROSSKOPF could not find the weak spot in his player’s game.
“That was great performance. The both players are not only very strong they played flawless today. Timo and Franz dominated against the reigning World champions at every stage of the match and rightly won the China Open. I’m sure they will all be confident for the European Games at the end of June in Minsk. “
In China BOLL and FRANZISKA continued to build on their outstanding track record winning the gold medal for the third time at their fourth joint World Tour start.
However Timo Boll was denied of his second medal. After yesterday’s knockout round win over Chinese YU Ziyang who had previously knocked out Sweden’s runner-up Mattias FALCK the European record champion lost to World’s no. three XU Xin (China) in four games in the quarterfinal. In round one Boll had won against Portuguese Joao MONTEIRO.
“That was a good tournament for Timo! A superb performance in the doubles crowned with the title win and quarter-finals in Singles says it all. XU Xin was just too dominant today you have to recognize that. “
Dimitrij OVTCHAROV lost in the round of the 16 against the number two in the world LIN Gaoyun after missed nine match points in the decisive round.
