TTCLM semi-finals Leg 1 UMMC – Borussia (March 7th 15:00 CET). Manager of German club Andreas PREUSS: “These are the duels one is dreaming of”. Team manager of UMMC Dmitry BALACHENKOV: “I’m sure our players will do their best in front of their fans and prove their level.”
Reigning TTCLM champion Borussia Dusseldorf travels to Russia in a good shape to play first semi-final game against 2012 TTCLM runner-up UMMC this Thursday March 7th. Three members of the most successful European club (11-time TTCLM winner) won medals at the national championships held last weekend: Timo BOLL reached his 13th gold in Germany while Kristian KARLSSON and Anton KALLBERG finished second and third respectively in Sweden.
“Bogoria was the strongest opponent we could get in quarter finals UMMC is the strongest one in semis. Since years UMMC is one of the best clubs in Europe. We do have a lot of respect. GACINA GROTH FABG SHIBAEV – all of them are world class players. I think my team is hot we want to defend the TTCL title” stated coach Danny HEISTER.
Manager Andreas PREUSS believes that his side is capable to secure good result before the second leg in Germany:
“We are happy to play against one of the best teams. These are the duels one is dreaming of. These are the interesting matches matches at eye level. We had a big event in Bundesliga against Ochsenhausen which took place in Munich with 4.500 spectators. This was our goal in the last weeks now we are going to focus us on TTCL semifinals. We had two good games against Bogoria UMMC had to fight hard against Mühlhausen and just won by points. But this has happened in the past. The duel against UMMC will start with 0:0 and I am sure it will be tough.”
Team manager of UMMC Dmitry BALACHENKOV stated:
“Borussia is the winner of the Champions League of the last season and we know that matches against them will be tough. But our team also made it to the semi-finals for the first time in five years for a reason. Now we have a very good composition. I’m sure our players will do their best to show their best play in front of their fans and prove their level.
Coach of Russian club the 2012 runner-up Tatyana KUTERGINA is sure that his side has capacity to beat TTCLM record holder:
“Borussia team is a very serious contender they have the highest level tennis players. Player number 1 is of course Timo Boll. It seems to me that today this athlete is playing even better than a couple of years ago. The UMMC club this season has tennis players on the roster who I am sure will be serious competitors for both Boll and Kristian Carlsson. In face-to-face meetings with Borussia we still have fewer victories than defeats and we want to change these figures in favor of victories.”
2018/19 TTCLM semi-finals Leg 1
UMMC – Borussia Dusseldorf (Thursday March 7th 15:00 CET)
Vaillante Sports Angers – Fakel Gazprom Orenburg (Friday March 8th 19:00 CET)
