Aruna, currently ranked world No. 21, stunned fans with his 3-2 win over Harimoto, marking a major highlight in his career and building on his previous success at the WTT Champions Montpellier last week. Walther, ranked world No. 60, is also in fine form, having won his opening match with a 3-0 sweep over Spain’s Alvaro Robles.
The upcoming match brings a touch of familiarity, as Aruna and Walther have previously clashed in the German Bundesliga, where Aruna has built a strong fan base. Known for his groundbreaking performances in Germany, particularly his historic run at the 2014 ITTF World Cup in Düsseldorf, Aruna has become a prominent figure in German table tennis, inspiring other African players to pursue careers in Europe’s leagues.
With a win against Walther, Aruna would make history as the first African male player to reach the quarterfinals of the WTT Champions, a milestone previously reached by Egyptian teenager Hana Goda in the women’s category at the WTT Champions Montpellier. However, as Aruna prepares to take on the German favorite on home soil, he may face a different atmosphere from the enthusiastic support he enjoyed against Harimoto.
In other tournament news, Hana Goda’s campaign ended in the first round of the Women’s Singles in Frankfurt. The Egyptian star was defeated by China’s He Zhuojia, who won 3-1.
As Aruna prepares for his showdown with Walther, fans worldwide will be watching closely to see if he can continue his remarkable run and etch his name further into the record books.
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