Other Events | 4 May 2014

Germany in fourth World’s final!

  For a fourth time Germany is in the final of the World Championships  and 42nd time European champions will play against China. It is overall record and so far they won only once in a friendly match. In Dortmund 2012 host nation halted Japan on the

For a fourth time Germany is in the final of the World Championships  and 42nd time European champions will play against China. It is overall record and so far they won only once in a friendly match.

In Dortmund 2012 host nation halted Japan on their way to the final. Just over two years later in the Yoyogi Gymnasium at the ZEN HON 2014 World Team Championships in Tokyo, the history repeated. Germany booked another ultimate stage and this time they accounted for their host.

World’s no. nine Timo BOLL opened the encounter against world’s no 16 Koki NIWA. Japan’s players edged out BOLL in tight first game before BOLL shifted to another gear. In next two games German dominated leaving NIWA in great problem. With 2:4 and 6:9 in fourth set it seamed Japan’s player could recover, but for a short while. BOLL sealed the match by narrow margin (16:18, 11:5, 11:4, 14:12).

“He improved his game very much. We meet few times and this was our closest duel. It was difficult. Someone could think that he plays without lot of thinking, but he plans every move and he study his adversary well,” explained BOLL.

MIZUTANI has his revenge. Two years ago it was 3:0 for German player. Best ranked European player Dimitrij OVTCHAROV at position no. four, lost against best Japan’s player MIZUTANI placed at position no 10 (8:11, 18:16, 11:6, 6:11, 8:11). “Both of us missed few chances. He missed couple balls in second set, I have few opportunities in fourth and fifth.. maybe the crucial one was was at 2:1 and 4:2. I did not take advantage of poor receives….at the end it is only important that the team won,” said OVTCHAROV.

For a first time in the match Germany won opening game when Patrick FRANZISKA played against Kenta MATSUDAIRA. However, he did not stay on the same track (12:10, 7:11, 6:11, 11:5, 11:5). It turned out to be another nail-biting close match. Despite five games encounter, Franziska stayed calm. “I have to say I was a little bit nervous. I played against him five years ago and I had no chance. After I was 2:1 down I knew I have to change something.”

When Timo entered the court for a second time today against Jun MIZUTANI, he was lethal and determined. He had a game to prove it (11:6, 11:5, 11:6). “He was maybe little bit tired after duel against OVTCHAROV, but generally I played good that match. I stood close to the table; put pressure on him, prevented Jun of opening the game. There were no long rallies, I controlled the match,” explained BOLL.

Jorg ROSSKOPF added: ”Timo played very good tonight. His game against NIWA was very close, but Jun failed to produce any pressure in decisive game against Timo. I guess he putt all efforts to beat OVTCHAROV. The team was well prepared for this match and I am happy to see the young Patrick FRANZISKA can follow our tactics and demands. It is good to know that.”