Fans in Germany have packed the Süwag Energie ARENA, fuelling an atmosphere that’s pushed players to their limits at the WTT Champions Frankfurt 2024.
In one of the most anticipated matchups, Truls MOREGARD (SWE) overcame the Montpellier champion Felix LEBRUN (FRA) 3-1 (11-7, 11-6, 5-11, 13-11) in the quarterfinals, setting up a Swedish semifinal showdown with compatriot KALLBERG.
“Most of the game plan was just to believe in it. I had a really good feeling before the match, I spoke with every person around me that I’m close to. I felt everyone had quite a good feeling in the stomach before the match and I believe in it from the start, and I could feel he got stressed quite fast in the match, and then I knew it would not go as easy as the first two sets. When I lost the third game I didn’t think too much about it, I knew it was going to happen and just tried to stick to my plan,” said MOREGARD.
Anton KALLBERG (SWE) delivered one of the event’s most stunning moments, defeating World No.1 WANG Chuqin (CHN) in straight games in the Round of 16 and following up with a decisive 3-1 win over wildcard Ricardo WALTHER (GER) in the quarterfinals (11-7, 11-4, 9-11, 11-4).
KALLBERG commented Ricardo WALTHER’s medical time out in game two:” I tried to not to be disrupted. Of course it changes the rhythm of the match a little bit and you have to try to focus on the match. At the same time you’re hoping he’s okay, so I have to ask him how he’s doing. He could still play on which made me happy and he was trying to find ways to still win even though he was injured, so I think it was still an interesting match. Entering the third game I had a lead, I felt a little bit too comfortable. He came back strong and I missed a couple of shots, so of course the pressure was a little bit higher in the fourth set. I just had to keep on going, keep on playing the way I had been before and believe I can keep on doing this. “
Defending Men’s Singles champion LIN Yun-Ju (TPE) showed true grit as he survived 3-2 in a nail-biting R16 match against Dang QIU (GER) before edging out Hugo CALDERANO (BRA) in a thrilling 3-2 quarterfinal victory. LIN remains on track to defend his title, but he’ll have to bring his A-game as he heads into the semifinals in the face of LIN Shidong (CHN).
17-year-old Sora MATSUSHIMA (JPN) impressed fans with his first WTT Champions quarterfinal run, toppling Darko JORGIC (SLO) 3-1 in the R16 before eventually falling to World No.2 LIN Shidong (CHN), who clinched a 3-1 win to book his place in the semifinals.
