Chinese table tennis star Fan Zhendong has made history by securing his first overseas club championship, leading Germany's Saarbrucken to victory in the German Cup final on January 6, 2026. The 29-year-old athlete from the Chinese mainland delivered a masterclass performance against former World No. 1 Dimitrij Ovtcharov, setting the stage for Saarbrucken's 3-1 triumph over RhonSprudel Fulda-Maberzell.
In front of 5,200 spectators at Neu-Ulm's packed arena, Fan maintained an unbeaten record throughout the tournament. His decisive 3-0 victory against Ruwen Filus in the final match sealed the championship, capping a remarkable day that included two earlier wins in the semifinal against Liebherr Ochsenhausen.
Since joining Saarbrucken in June 2025, Fan has become instrumental in the club's triple pursuit of Bundesliga, German Cup, and European Champions League honors. The team now prepares for its Champions League quarterfinal match later this month, with Fan's performance positioning them as strong continental contenders.
"Competing alongside Europe's best players while experiencing this incredible fan support has been invaluable," Fan remarked after the match, highlighting the cultural and professional significance of his European campaign.
