KTS Enea Siarkopol Tarnobrzeg and Metz TT will battle for historic Final 4 crown

Four-time Champions League winners, hosts and toppers KTS Enea Siarkopol Tarnobrzeg secured their place in the final of the first ever ETTU Champions League Women Final 4 after an impressive win over reigning champions TTC Berlin Eastside in front of a home crowd in Tarnobrzeg.

The German club, one of the most decorated teams in the history of European women’s table tennis with seven Champions League titles, arrived with a very young line-up, while Tarnobrzeg relied on its vast experience and world-class quality to control the semi-final from start to finish.

In tomorrow’s final, scheduled for 15:00 CET, KTS Enea Siarkopol Tarnobrzeg will face French club Metz TT, who defeated Spain’s UCAM Cartagena TM in the opening semi-final earlier today.

In the opening match, 28-year-old Chinese player Zhuojia HE faced Germany’s emerging talent, 16-year-old Josephina NEUMANN. HE’s constant variation in rhythm and spin prevented NEUMANN from settling into the match, allowing the Tarnobrzeg player to build an early lead.

In the second game, NEUMANN adapted better and tried to stay closer in the rallies, but HE remained completely under control. The German youngster opened the third game with a slim lead, but the advantage quickly disappeared as HE picked up the pace and completely dictated the game. From then on the encounter became one-way traffic, with HE comfortably finishing the match in two games.

Nineteen-year-old Japanese defender Yuka KANEYOSHI faced experienced 38-year-old Xiaoxin YANG in the second match of the semi-finals. YANG reaffirmed her reputation as a player very comfortable in defensive styles. Her powerful attacking play and sharp counter-topspin rallies quickly energized the spectators in Tarnobrzeg.

Despite the result in the two matches, KANEYOSHI showed courage and perseverance during the encounter. The young Japanese player stayed level at 5-5 and 7-7 in the third game before taking the lead 9-7 and threatening to extend the match. However, YANG remained patient under pressure, erased the advantage immediately and closed the match in two games, with her experience and composure proving decisive.

Europe No. 5 Ying HAN, 43 years old and fresh from winning a bronze medal with Germany at the World Championships, faced 20-year-old compatriot Mia GRIESEL in the third match.

HAN opened the meeting in spectacular fashion and won the first nine points of the match in quick succession. GRIESEL responded better in the second game and briefly took the lead 3-1, but HAN quickly closed the gap and once again took full control with its trademark defensive precision and clever placement.

“It was important to maintain focus. We did not give away any easy points and we kept our mistakes to a minimum,” HAN explains.

“It was important for us to stay fully focused throughout the match. Of course we made some small adjustments during the meeting, but the key was to concentrate on every ball and every match, and that is why we achieved such a good result.”

What I liked most today was Xiaoxin YANG’s performance. She has worked very hard to get back into her best shape after her maternity holiday. She returned last November and our strategy was to bring her back step by step through feeder tournaments rather than pushing her straight away in the biggest events.

She kept in constant contact with our coaches and carefully prepared one tournament after another. Today she was focused from the very first ball to the very last ball. She looked fresh, disciplined and technically very consistent and I am very happy because she is getting very close to her best level again. She is definitely on the right track to return to table tennis at the highest level,” said coach Zbigniew NĘCEK.