Patrick Franziska vs Dang Qiu _ MS R16 _ #WTTFrankfurt 2025

Sorry, straight away. A little touche tennis. It's a great audience in tonight as well. That one's going to crackle. The atmosphere is going to buzz. Right back. Oh, sorry, sorry. That is instant table tennis karma. The first one was a parallel winner. We didn't mention in that. Games in the quarterfinal there. The next generation. These are three different generations. Not these. No, that's right. He tends to stay closer to the table, but serve and receive is going to be crucial here because... Great mobility there. Both players moving well, but Dang Chou finding the angle. One compliment to Franziska's game is that he's not afraid. A bit of a chop block there from behind the table, and then he tried these early exchanges. This is merciless speed. Oh, and he's done it again. At the start and the end of the game, just a little clip off the edge of the table to define that one, to punctuate the first game. That goes the way of the man in green. This is signature Dang Chou right here, playing the line once for most people, even competitors. Oh, he's on fire. This time, out wide to the forehand. No problem. Finds the purple paint. Oh, wow. Wrong footed. This is crazy unusual in the modern era. That seems fair to me. And it looks now... A little bit, but nothing crazy. Well, there he is, and it is one apiece. And he just looks like he's in the groove a little bit more now. Fresh set of clothes makes you feel ready. Oh, he's got so low. And that's the beauty of this sport, isn't it? In many ways, Adam. Today, two pushes. And it's also a reminder. You asked me earlier about giving someone speed. Another serve that tangles up. This time he steps into the table very effectively to level us up again. Beautiful. Chopping back when he had to there, Dang Chou. And coming away with the point. Great rally back. That little tomahawk chop block on the point a lot here. That is a really well executed point to take out the game for Dang Chou. Put his opponent where he did not want to be. Excellent misdirection. And then... Love one. That's a suffocating speed we were talking about. But if you give Dang Chou a chance, and you spoke earlier on about the fact that sometimes the ball isn't there for hitting. Just be that. But the only problem now is that the scoreboard... But he'll know that's a thought that has to be expunged from his mind because Dang Chou is in the mood right now. Yeah, and the time out here, I think we just have to acknowledge how impressive that shot was. And he's just edging his way back into this as Francisco. Second bounce. Outright. Oh, this time it doesn't make it over the net. Into the body and then out wide. The one-two. That's a big point right there. Oh, almost returned it. Using the reach here. That sets up match point. What are you thinking, John? What a way to set up match point. Doesn't need to. And it's 11-8, and it's the game, and it's the match. And in this battle of the Germans, it's the number eight seed, Dang Chou, who emerges the winner. A tough day for Patrick Franziska, but considering his history in Frankfurt, he's taken a big step in the right direction. And he had a tough opponent. I mean, the better world ranking, now their head-to-head is one and one. Patrick Franziska is going to be cheering on Dang Chou for the rest of this event. He's clearly frustrated, felt that he had some good opportunities and could have done better, but Dang Chou looked really impressive to me. And Dang Chou's done this coming from behind.