Ovtcharov's first test as number one

Montreux (SID) About a month after his rise to the top of the table tennis world rankings, Dimitrij Ovtcharov (Hameln/Orenburg) is facing his first test as number one in the world. At the Europe Top 16 Cup, the favored World Cup winner wants to extend his record series to four title wins in a row by successfully defending his title and at the same time consolidate his lead in the ranking over the Chinese World Cup runner-up Fan Zhendong. At the start on Saturday (16.30 p.m.), Ovtcharov will face outsider Lionel Weber from Switzerland in the round of 171. The 61.000st in the world rankings only slipped into the high-class tournament field via the host's quota place. As was the case several times last year, Ovtcharov's most dangerous competitor at the 14.50 euro tournament in Montreux is likely to be the Düsseldorf record European champion and third in the world rankings, Timo Boll. Boll will first face his Bundesliga teammate Stefan Fegerl (Austria) (XNUMX:XNUMX p.m.). In addition to the two top stars, the German Table Tennis Association (DTTB) is also sending Ruwen Filus (Fulda) and Bastian Steger (Bremen) into the race in the traditional ranking tournament (formerly Europe Top 12), which is also qualification for the World Cup in Paris in the fall . Filus competes against the Swede Mattias Karlsson, Steger faces European champion Emmanuel Lebesson (France). There could be a German duel between Boll and Steger in the quarterfinals. In the women's category, alongside last year's third-place finisher Sabine Winter (Kolbermoor), the Mixed World Championship third-place finisher Petrissa Solja (Berlin) is trying to take the next step on the international stage after her month-long break from competition due to "physical and mental exhaustion". Winter, seeded 13th in Montreux, will face Poland's favorite world-class defender Li Qian in the round of XNUMX. Solja will face her Berlin club colleague Georgina Pota (Hungary) in her first round game. As he enters the international tournament season as number one, Ovtcharov does not see himself under any more pressure than before. "I was already the top seed in a few tournaments before, so nothing really changes for me. I'm trying to convert the greater attention into positive energy," said the two-time European champion before the attempt at his fifth Europe Top 16. Title. Success in marketing is likely to provide additional motivation for the 29-year-old: At the beginning of the month, the Olympic bronze medalist won the Düsseldorf insurance group ARAG as a further personal sponsor, which has also been a partner of the DTTB as well as Boll and the German champions Borussia Düsseldorf for a long time .

Football

Italy

International leagues

International

Winter sports

Tennis

Other sports

Motorsport

Cycling

Watersports

Events

Favorites

Ovtcharov's first test as number one

Suggestions