The previously unbeaten TSV Gnarrenburg suffered their first two defeats in the Lüneburg district league on the fourth matchday of the current season. The 3:5 against leaders BV Verden and the 2:6 against the new runners-up VfL Stade could even be described as quite a crash landing, at least Axel Renken found appropriate words: “We were brought down to earth with full force.”
BV Verden – TSV Gnarrenburg 5:3: The start was extremely promising for the Gnarrenburgers. Marco Wellbrock and Christian Tiedgen had to clearly admit defeat, but Stefan Meyer and Axel Renken as well as Manuela and Ulrike Renken also achieved confident two-set victories. “Unfortunately, this tour did not bring the security we had hoped for,” reported Axel Renken.
Stefan Meyer had to admit defeat in the first men’s singles despite winning the first round, and Patrick Oelmann also suffered the same fate – namely a three-set defeat. Christian Tiedgen almost won the second set despite a painful calf injury, but then lost too, so the score was now 2:4. Manuela Renken then shortened it again and gave up just five points in her two-set win.
In the final mixed, Ulrike and Axel Renken quickly realized that it wouldn’t be enough that day. “Somehow we were fighting a losing battle, things just didn’t come together very well,” said Axel Renken.
VfL Stade – TSV Gnarrenburg 6:2: The ailing Christian Tiedgen bit his teeth again in doubles alongside Marco Wellbrock, but the opposing duo turned out to be too strong. It was a similar story for Patrick Oelmann and Axel Renken, who were also clearly defeated in two sets. And the women’s doubles, which had been unbeaten for a long time, was also hit.
After “years without defeat,” said Axel Renken, Manuela and Ulrike Renken had to admit defeat again in three sets. In a dramatic match, the brilliantly fighting TSV duo saved themselves into the third set, fended off three match points at 16:20, only to have to admit defeat 19:21 after a very narrow loss. A point win was now practically impossible, at least the strong Stefan Meyer and Manuela Renken provided some cosmetic results with their individual victories.
“We don’t want to judge this double defeat as a trend-setting one, after all we are still within reach,” summarized Axel Renken and concluded by adding: “And besides, we like the role of pursuer much better anyway.”
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