Other Events | 29 Mar 2014

Stefan MENGEL created great upset at German Open

Great tournament such as GAC Group 2014 ITTF World Tour German Open is, can not provide nothing less then the top rated excitement and sensational upsets. The creator of the sensation of the epic proportions today was Steffen MENGEL. In front of the home

Great tournament such as GAC Group 2014 ITTF World Tour German Open is, can not provide nothing less then the top rated excitement and sensational upsets. The creator of the sensation of the epic proportions today was Steffen MENGEL.

In front of the home crowd, player who has been required to compete in two days of qualification matches, Steffen MENGEL beat China’s WANG Hao, the top seed and former World champion, in a classic seven games duel (11-8, 11-13, 8-11, 12-10, 4-11, 12-10, 11-6) to book his place in the quarter-finals of a Men’s Singles event for the second time in a period of three months. In January, at the GAC Group 2014 ITTF World Tour Hungarian Open he finished in runners up spot, beaten in the final by Austria’s Daniel HABESOHN.

In the quarterfinal MENGEL beat CHO Eonrae of Korea to secure the medal. He will play against Jun MIZUTANI of Japan for the final, whilst in other match Tiago APOLONIA of Portugal will meet Dimitrij OVTCHAROV of Germany.

MENGEL: “I didn’t have time to enjoy my victory over Wang Hao. I knew I would soon fast Cho, so I just went back to the hotel to eat for half an hour and then quickly back to the venue. I needed to feel the atmosphere before a match. Against WANG Hao I had used my last clean shirt. Again Cho I wore one that I had used for training sessions, but from a distance nobody smelt that I hope. I need to do some washing tonight for the last day of the tournament tomorrow.The crowd was strongly supporting me. That might have been a setback for him.  I knew that I must not be inattentive against the number 23 in the world. I had to keep the tension and focus on the match until the end. I myself am surprised that I won 4-0 – as in all the other matches it took me 7 games. I was also wondering that I didn’t get tired. I almost waited for it but it was like in a playing frenzy. I haven’t made up my mind about the semi-final. MIZUTANI in any respect is a world-class player. I have to be back in shape again on the spot”.

Dimitrij OVTCHAROV after win over Seiya KISHIKAWA said:“What ever my comment on this match will be, Steffen will dominate the headlines. He really caused some big surprises here. I hope that we will both win one more match and meet in the final.For myself a clean sweep again Kishi heading towards the World Championships was important. A long and tough working day is coming to an end for me. I’m happy that I can relax in the hotel now”.

Already, MENGEL proved how dangerous he is; at the German National Championships in 2012, he caused a sensation by beating Timo BOLL in the final.

Today was the bad day for Vladimir SAMSONOV of Belarus as well. Japan’s Seiya KISHIKAWA, the no.15 seed, beat Samsonov, the no.5 seed and twice the champion in Germany. He won in 2001 in Bayreuth and in 2005 in Magdeburg.

Qualifier in the Women’s Singles Event Sofia POLCANOVA, the Austrian overcame Ukraine’s Margaryta PESOTSKA, the no.21 seed, in four straight games in the third round. In quarters she beat Misaki MOROZONO of Japan to secure the medal.