BERLIN, May 17 (Xinhua) -- Germany's Saarbruecken retained the ETTU Champions League men's title on Sunday, overcoming Alliance Nimes/Montpellier of France 3-2 in a dramatic Final Four final, despite Chinese star Fan Zhendong losing both of his matches.
Fan, who appeared in the opening and fourth rubbers, was beaten 3-0 by Alexis Lebrun and then 3-0 by Felix Lebrun. However, Saarbruecken prevailed on home soil thanks to key wins from Truls Moregard and Darko Jorgic.
In the opening rubber, Fan lost to Alexis Lebrun 11-6, 11-8, 11-9 as Nimes/Montpellier took a 1-0 lead. Moregard then edged Felix Lebrun 15-13, 15-13, 12-10 in three tight games to level the tie for the defending champions.
Jorgic put Saarbruecken ahead with a 12-10, 11-4, 11-7 victory over Antoine Hachard in the third rubber. Fan returned for the fourth match but fell to Felix Lebrun 11-6, 13-11, 11-8, allowing the French side to force a decisive fifth rubber.
In the decider, Moregard defeated Alexis Lebrun 3-1 to seal a 3-2 victory for Saarbruecken and secure the trophy.
Saarbruecken has been a dominant force in European club table tennis in recent years, having won the ETTU Champions League Men titles in 2023, 2024 and 2025.
Saarbruecken announced Fan's signing last June. In March, the club said Fan would join Borussia Dusseldorf after the end of the season. ■
