Borussia Düsseldorf rallies from 0-2 to beat Grünwettersbach 3-2, retains top spot

Borussia Düsseldorf produced a dramatic comeback to defeat ASC Grünwettersbach 3-2 in the return match on matchday 16 of the Table Tennis Bundesliga, a more-than-three-and-a-half-hour contest that preserved Düsseldorf’s position at the top of the TTBL standings.

Grünwettersbach jumped to a 2-0 lead after the opening two singles, with Hiroto Shinozuka beating Kanak Jha 3-1 (11-6, 9-11, 11-6, 11-6) and Tiago Apolonia edging Li Yongyin in five sets, 3-2 (11-4, 11-9, 5-11, 4-11, 11-8). Facing a daunting deficit, Borussia turned the tie around through a pair of authoritative singles wins and a decisive doubles victory.

Anton Källberg leveled the tie for Düsseldorf with an “absolut überzeugend” 3-0 win over Tom Jarvis, 11-6, 11-4, 11-9. Kanak Jha followed by beating Tiago Apolonia 3-0, 11-8, 11-9, 11-7, forcing a winner-takes-all doubles. The deciding rubber saw Anton Källberg and Li Yongyin defeat Ricardo Walther and Hiroto Shinozuka 3-1, 11-7, 8-11, 11-9, 12-10, sealing the 3-2 tie for Düsseldorf.

The match read like a TTBL Krimi, swinging from early Grünwettersbach control to a gritty Borussia fightback. The doubles pairing of Källberg and Li held firm under pressure, converting a tight fourth game 12-10 to end the contest. The comeback also reinforced Borussia’s depth after bringing in new signings Kanak Jha and Li Yongyin this season; the club continued without veteran Timo Boll in the squad line-up.

The result carries clear implications for the local and national table tennis community. Borussia remains unbeaten in 2026 and “took the next step toward the Liebherr TTBL Final4,” underlining Düsseldorf’s role as the Rekordmeister and the leading candidate for the post-season, while Grünwettersbach proved again why its first-leg surprised many. ASC’s earlier season victory over Düsseldorf, a 3-1 win in September at the ASC Arena — described by the club as a Hexenkessel der TTBL — framed this return match as a must-win for the record champions.

For club players, coaches and fans, doubles tactics and mid-match adjustments stood out as decisive; Li Yongyin’s recovery to contribute in the doubles after a narrow singles defeat highlights the value of squad versatility. The broader TTBL table remains contested: 1. FC Saarbrücken TT also posted a 3-1 win over TTC Zugbrücke Grenzau on matchday 16, keeping the race lively.

What comes next is a run of fixtures that will test whether Düsseldorf can convert late comebacks into consistent dominance through the run-in to the Final4. Grünwettersbach showed it can unsettle the big clubs; local clubs and supporters will watch upcoming matchdays to see whether Düsseldorf’s newcomers keep delivering in high-pressure moments.