DARMSTADT – The tennis men from TEC Darmstadt continue to fight for the Hessen championship and possible promotion to the regional league. The TEC team beat TC Steinbach 8:1 in the playoff quarter-finals and was rightly celebrated by the 200 or so visitors. “The boys were highly motivated. There wasn’t a trace of tension. They all delivered it confidently. That makes us proud,” coach Jan Vrbsky praised the performance of this year’s surprise team in the top division at state level, which had won 6-3 the day before had secured group victory in the preliminary round against TC Bergen-Enkheim.
Against Steinbach, Murkel Dellien, Daniel Lustig, Stefan Popovic, Oskar Stuchlik and Marco Ferrandina ensured an unassailable 5-1 lead after the singles, after which the guests decided not to play the doubles. The result looks much clearer than the actual course of the game was. Because all four individuals in the front positions were only decided in the match tiebreak. Murkel Dellien set the dramatic conclusion with a 13:11 in the third round against the Italian Giovanni Oradini. Daniel Lustig (10:8) and Stefan Popovic (10:7) made it a little clearer, Jan Vrbsky (4:10) was also within reach of a three-set win. But because Oskar Stuchlik and Marco Ferrandina clearly won their singles in the back positions, the game was decided earlier than expected.
This makes it clear: TEC, unbeaten this season, enjoys home rights in the semifinals against RW Sprendlingen (6:3 against TVH Rüsselsheim) next Saturday and can also serve on their own facility if they reach the final.
“We’re not thinking that far yet. Now let’s enjoy progressing. We’ll start preparing for the next game on Tuesday,” Vrbsky said, and after Sunday’s success he treated his players to a cold drink or two. “It’s a season whose success for us is supported by the entire team. The team spirit in the squad is immense. It doesn’t matter what the game: all nine boys are always there, whether they play or not. They’re happy just when they can see each other and support each other. That’s great,” said the experienced supervisor and praised the team as well as the loyal fans: “We had around 200 spectators again. That’s great TEC is a big family. There are members who make a nice breakfast for the players beforehand and get up very early for it. That’s crazy. It shows the cohesion in the club,” Vrbsky is impressed.
With a view to next weekend, the TEC coach remains relaxed: “For us there are only bonus games left. All four final teams are very strong. It also plays a role which foreigners are used by the opponents. We already have one like that played in an unexpected league.”
The coach is also very satisfied with the cooperation with the board. Vrbsky: “A well-structured concept was set up a few years ago, on the basis of which we can and want to promote many talents from the region. It’s actually bearing fruit now. That’s a good thing.” In addition to the international reinforcements, you can also rely on a veteran. About Daniel Lustig, long-time number one and second in the team this season, Vrbsky says: “At the age of 38, he is still a great support for the team and a role model for the younger players. We are happy to have a like having him on the team.”
Stenogamme
Preliminary round, group 2, last matchday:
TEC Darmstadt – TC Bergen-Enkheim 6:3
Muekel Dellien – Gakhov 6:3, 6:4; Daniel Lustig – Steiner 6:4, 6:1; Jan Simon Vrbsky – Nielsen 3:6, 4:6; Stefan Popovic – Hoeveler 6:4, 6:1; Matteo Feggi – Schuetze 1:6, 3:6; Julian Muller – Seifert 3:6, 0:6; Dellien/Ferrandina – Gakhov/Hoeveler 6:4, 6:2; Lustig/Stuchlik – Steiner/Nielsen 3:6, 6:3, 10:4; Vrbsky/Popovic – Seifert/Heide 6:2, 6:4.
Kill table: 1st TEC Darmstadt 10:0 team points/ 34:11 match points, 2nd TC Bergen-Enkheim 8:2/30:15, 3rd TVH Rüsselsheim 6:4/24:21, 4th FTC Palmengarten II 4:6/23 :22, 5th SC Frankfurt 80 2:8/12:33, 6th BW Bad Soden 0:10/12:33.
Playoff Quarterfinals:
BW Wiesbaden – FTC Palmengarten II 6:3
TC Bergen-Enkheim – End. Frankfurt II 5:4
RW Sprendlingen – TVH Ruesselsheim 6:3
TEC Darmstadt – TC Steinbach 8:1
Dellien – Oradini 6:4, 2:6, 13:11, Lustig – Galka 6:7, 6:3, 10:8, Vrbsky – Mayer 3:6, 6:1, 4:10, Popovic – Pavlovsky 6: 3, 3: 6, 10: 7, Oskar Stuchlik – Diehl 6: 4, 6: 2, Marco Ferrandina – Sommer 6: 4, 6: 0 (doubles went to TEC without a fight).
So in the semifinals, Saturday (13th), 10 a.m.: TEC Darmstadt – RW Sprendlingen, BW Wiesbaden – TC Bergen-Enkheim (final on Sunday, 10 a.m.).
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