The first title of the season goes to Swabia: TTF Liebherr Ochsenhausen triumphed at the LIEBHERR Cup Final Four and won the German Table Tennis Cup for the fifth time. On Saturday, in front of 4,500 enthusiastic fans at the ratiopharm arena in Ulm/Neu-Ulm, TTF secured the final with a 3-1 victory over 1. FC Saarbrücken TT.
Hugo CALDERANO, the world No. 6 smiled broadly, danced around the court, and repeatedly celebrated with a clenched fist. CALDERANO played four matches throughout the LIEBHERR Cup Final Four, winning all of them and dropping just one game in total. In the final against 1. FC Saarbrücken TT, Calderano and his teammates lifted the trophy after a 3-1 victory, marking their first title since the 2019 double win.
“It’s very special for us to win this title,” said CALDERANO afterward. “I’m very happy it worked out. Playing here is always a special experience because of the proximity to Ochsenhausen and the many fans in the arena.”
The decisive victory came from Calderano in his match against Patrick FRANZISKA. CALDERANO won 3-0, displaying clever play at key moments, stealing points from his opponent, and benefiting from some luck. A spectacular rally gave him the first set 11-10, and a defensive edge shot secured a 10-7 lead in the second set.
“Hugo played flawlessly, very versatile, and extremely confidently,” acknowledged FRANZISKA. “When he plays like that, he can beat any player in the world.”
With five cup victories (2002, 2003, 2004, 2019, 2025), Ochsenhausen is now the second most successful team in the tournament’s history, behind record-holder Borussia Düsseldorf (28 titles).
“Incredible, truly incredible,” said Simon GAUZY. “Our big goal was to participate and win the title. We faced two incredibly strong opponents today, so we’re even happier with our success.”
Saarbrücken and Ochsenhausen last met in a final in 2020, when Saarbrücken won the German Championship 3-1. However, Saarbrücken missed out on their third cup victory (after 2012 and 2022) on Saturday. They still have two more title opportunities in the Table Tennis Bundesliga (TTBL) and the Champions League. In the TTBL, both Saarbrücken and Ochsenhausen are fighting for playoff spots, and Saarbrücken has reached the Champions League quarterfinals.
Before beating FRANZISKA, CALDERANO had already defeated Saarbrücken’s Darko JORGIC (3-1) and, in the semifinals, Yuma TSUBOI and Kristian KARLSSON (both 3-0) from TTC OE Bad Homburg. GAUZY also contributed a point against Bad Homburg with a 3-1 win over KARLSSON, while Shunsuke TOGAMI secured a crucial point against Saarbrücken. The Japanese player saved three match points from Eduard IONESCU and fought back to win the fifth set 3-2, celebrating on his knees with clenched fists.
In the other semifinal, Saarbrücken defeated SV Werder Bremen 3-1.
“Of course we’re disappointed, and it’s not a good feeling to be second for what feels like the tenth time,” admitted FRANZISKA. Last year, FCS also lost the cup final, that time 0-3 to Borussia Düsseldorf. “But it is what it is,” FRANZISKA added. “Congratulations to Ochsenhausen; they played strongly and deserved to win.”
Final
1. FC Saarbrücken TT – TTF Liebherr Ochsenhausen 1:3
- Patrick FRANZISKA – Simon GAUZY 3:0 (11:8, 12:10, 13:11)
- Darko JORGIC – Hugo CALDERANO 1:3 (6:11, 2:11, 11:8, 9:11)
- Eduard IONESCU – Shunsuke TOGAMI 2:3 (11:9, 7:11, 11:6, 10:12, 6:11)
- Patrick FRANZISKA – Hugo CALDERANO 0:3 (10:12, 7:11, 8:11)
Semi final
TTF Liebherr Ochsenhausen – TTC OE Bad Homburg 3:1
- Hugo CALDERANO – Yuma TSUBOI 3:0 (11:5, 13:11, 11:3)
- Simon GAUZY – Kristian KARLSSON 3:1 (11:9, 8:11, 14:12, 11:6)
- Shunsuke TOGAMI – Csaba ANDRAS 1:3 (11:5, 9:11, 7:11, 5:11)
- Hugo CALDERANO – Kristian KARLSSON 3:0 (11:9, 11:6, 11:4)
SV Werder Bremen – 1. FC Saarbrücken TT 1:3
- Mattias FALCK – Patrick FRANZISKA 0:3 (6:11, 7:11, 11:13)
- Marcelo AGUIRRE – Darko JORGIC 1:3 (8:11, 11:8, 8:11, 4:11)
- Kirill GERASSIMENKO – Yuto MURAMATSU 3:0 (11:7, 11:6, 11:4)
- Mattias FALCK – Darko JORGIC 0:3 (5:11, 8:11, 5:11)
FOTO: BeLa Sportfoto
