FULL MATCH | Truls Moregard vs Benedikt Duda | MS SF | #EuropeSmash 2025

First blood goes to Duda, who says he's like a good red wine. The older he gets, the better he gets. 1-0. It's so true, I mean Benedikt Duda is a relatively late bloomer in table tennis. Someone who was on the fringes of the German team but kept in the picture because of his hard work and determination. Now the highest ranked German and someone who could be going into the top five quite soon. Oh, just catches the edge of the table, acknowledged by the German of course there. Let's talk about the fans a little bit here, listen to them. I've just been down there, as you know, for that first semi-final. Spoke to Lin Si Dong. You look at these guys in yellow, they all took a neutral and supported that neutral. And there was a lot of support for Simon Gozi just now. But right now this is a sea of yellow and they're all supporting one man. So, will Benedikt Duda handle it? I suspect yes, he will. Well, let's just say this. He was not shaken in the Foz do Iguazu Star Contender Final against Hugo Calderano. And the only people representing Germany there was Duda and his coach. So a stadium full of Brazilian fans going crazy for Calderano. Absolutely. No one there supporting the German and he took Calderano to seven. Obviously he's beating him 4-0 here. Yorgo Raskov looking on there impassively. Big part of this run for Duda this week as well. Yeah, legendary coach, former World Cup champion. What was Duda's win? Incredible win against Calderano based on. How did he win that so convincingly? I think he is a kind of guy who meticulously obsesses over the fine details in a serve-receive game. And for a big guy, he is so agile. Good on both wings. Does really well at gauging the distance. He needs to be from the table. A real powerhouse. But of course, he's up against the maverick quality, the chop blocks, the talent, the flair. And the sheer aggression that he's channeled this week makes Moragard very dangerous. Makes him incredibly dangerous. He's a real maverick. He's a real box of tricks, shows Moragard. But can he bring the Viking spirit here against Benedikt Duda? Oh, listen to him. He's done this and he's done it so well. If you listen to some of the public statements that Schulz has made as well. He's talked about the Swedish fans being the best in the world. He's talked about making this his house. Yeah, he's harnessed everything he can. He certainly has jumped. Oh, beautiful construction from Moragard. Oh! Duda's defiance turns into an absolute peach of a winner. He channeled his inner Timo Boll with that outrageous backhand there. Moragard with some really crafty wrong-footing backhands. Unbelievable balance from Duda to re-center himself before taking on that unthinkable shot. But to add to what you said earlier, Moragard has such fond memories here in Melmö. It was just two years ago where he made history for Sweden at the European Team Championships. Beating Timo Boll in that match to win it for Sweden for the first time in 21 years. This really is his playground. Yeah, and when they did meet earlier this year, the WDD champions in Schan, it was a straight game to win for Moragard. Oh, what a shot! Well, when you've got flair, we saw Guzzi doing this. Anette Kord doesn't faze them at all. They're picking up from anywhere. Yeah, took it on from below the table with loads of sidespin there. It's a little bit of a forehand chop block, if you will. This is why so many people compare him to Jan-Ove Voldner. He was a real maverick himself and, of course, a Swedish Grand Slam champion. Someone who will have inspired Moragard, no doubt. And basically every Swedish table tennis player. 7-8. There's already a quality to this. It's absolutely fizzing along in this one here. Dare we dream that it's going to be anything like the first semi-final, because it's shaping up well, this. Well, everybody had goosebumps there in that last match. Who will face the unshakable world number one? A statement. He has a two-point advantage in the first, Moragard. Look at that. Two punches, a backhand counter and another punch. You see the kids around this arena. One day someone will say, when did you fall in love with table tennis? I think I know what they're going to say. And the hero who they've come to see now has three game points in the first. Great improv. 7-1. One wrong. So I'm never going to ask you to draw early conclusions. It's one game at the start of potentially seven. Who looks as if they're up to speed already? I think the scoreboard can be quite misleading. And even though Charles Moragard has got the better start, I don't yet think we've seen Duda in full flow. Good start here from the ninth seed. 1-2. It's interesting. I think a lot of fans expected us to have a repeat of the World Cup final. Lyncherdon versus Calderano. But here, one of these two looking to make history. 3-1. There is a reason why the only European to have reached a grand smash is a German. Patrick Franziska. And, you know, the German team so thorough. We see this a lot from Charles. Something happens. There's always that animated, disbelieving look. But back to the impassive German. A very different approach, isn't it? Yeah. He gets his head down. You don't get the sense that Duda is really interested in making the highlight reel. He's lucky enough to catch up with him a couple of times earlier on today. His preparations have been methodical. He slept when he needed to. Fueled up when he needed to. But this is now something different because you can prepare all you want. But this atmosphere, this occasion, and also the prize that's at stake here. They've already got further, these players, than they ever have before on this stage. But a chance to make a grand smash final. There's going to be some butterflies. And we know that Charles is a vice world champion, vice Olympic champion. He's probably the favorite to get to this final, going off his history-making performances in the last five years. But could one of these two gentlemen go one step further? Because he was so close to guaranteeing a European winner in that last semi. 3-2-9-6. He comes back over the table to Duda. Yeah, incredible. Had his chances. Looked as if he had Lun Shidong down and out at 3-1. That reminded us how special this sport can be when played over seven in particular. There's always a way back. There's that punch again into the transition zone of Benedikt Duda. Good peripheral vision from Moragard. Lent. 5-3. Constantly disturbing the rhythm of the opponent. It must feel horrible to play against him. Yes, we see so many rallies, so many highlight reels where Moragard is involved. But he's someone who knows how to jam you up. He treats it more like a game than a sport, Moragard. Oh, that's beautiful. And he's got game, this guy. That little shuffle step to the right and then just an extension. Absolutely love that from Moragard. An unparalleled parallel whistles down the line. 5-6. And now having fought back, he takes a slender lead as well. Leading by one in this semifinal. Nice Chiquita from Moragard. Something different but Duda unfazed. Now this is when he's almost unstoppable. Seems to be in a little bit of a flow state. Little bunny hop backhand from Moragard and he keeps the bat high. Takes it at the peak of the bounce. Changing the direction of play constantly. He just sees pictures in his head. He sees angles and is able to pick them as he did there. Seems to be able to manifest whatever he's visualizing at times, this weed. But Duda needed that no matter how he got it. He has to somehow just hang with this guy, stay with him. Because Moragard's a mercurial player. He has the capacity to pick up quick points but also to lose quick points. Yeah, and we'll see that any optimism will remain guarded here. Oh, nice chop block from Moragard. But I do think that Moragard will feel like it's quite hard to get under the skin of Benedict Duda. I don't think you'll see any early celebrations if he goes, say, 9-6 up in a game that would seal him the win. He's smart. Compared with last time, he was making so much noise from the get-go in an attempt to really intimidate his opponent. As you can see here, quietly going about the business because he knows it won't work on Duda. Absolutely right. And look at that for a forehand flick. Flash banged. Six of the last eight points. To the player who's just had a little bit of an awkward tumble there. We saw Gauzy go down earlier on. It was a sensible move from Gauzy because he might have hurt himself otherwise. That was a little bit more awkward for Charles. Trying to lunge so much that his left foot collided with his right. The first pendulum from Duda. Raw power. I was very impressed that he was able to return the Moragard punch because there's a deadening effect to the punch. You can hear the solid contact. Basically, no topspin on it. Duda adjusting his posture brilliantly throughout that rally. That was a battle for control of the table. Once again, he's so persistent. He was into the elbow then of Duda. Always asking questions. Now, the extra factor comes into play. We're getting towards the end of this game. The crowd is getting very, very noisy. And unlike many, many players, even unlike many top players, Moragard loves being under pressure. Oh, wow. To produce that under pressure. Yeah, I hear you. Inside out, on the paint. And it sets up a game point. A little football skill there as well. Nicely done. A little kick up. The celebration. Fingers raised. Everyone in support of Charles Moragard. Long one. This is a very important game now. If Duda can take this to win a game and change it to 2-1, it could completely change the complexion of this semi-final. 1-0. But look at that. Absolutely chiselling the ball, Charles Moragard, with that scythe of a top block. A man who has really popularised this cyber-shaped racket. Started using it just before the World Championships in 2021. And goodness me, what an unbelievable campaign from there in Houston. He's done it again. In and out. That was a dance, wasn't it, John? Beautifully choreographed from on high above that one. He is turning it on here. And those even higher up in the seats here. Well, they've got the best view of a spectacular player. Look at that. He knows exactly when not to attack. And that shows that he's so mature as a player as well. An attacker, yes, but not an out-and-out attacker. Bit of a hybrid player in some sense, Moragard. Duda has to somehow, somehow hang in here. But he's so good at that, isn't he? He's so hard to bury. You do get the feeling that if Moragard really, really puts the foot down now, it might be too much even for the towering German. I think so. I think Moragard's got that X-factor. He can make it a constant guessing game. But that said, he doesn't want to become predictably unpredictable. He's got to be selective as to when he does choose to play his more showcase shots. It's a great point. We've seen a pragmatism from him here. He's done what he's needed to do, much in the way that Simon Gauzy did. He reigned in some of his more eccentric ways. He played a pragmatic style of table tennis that nearly carried him to the final. The tough thing about that chop block is that it's not so obvious how much backspin is actually on it. Sometimes it's fairly floaty. The opponent ends up overcompensating, well, thinking there's backspin and overlifting the ball. Of course, the real advantage George Moragard has now is the fact that he's got two games in the bank. Two of them in his pocket. That gives him far more options and maybe that's why now we hear timeout called. I think so. And sometimes he just makes it look like he's got so much time on the ball, Moragard. Big break for the big German. It's not actually within Benedikt Düder's nature to play with so much creativity. I'd say he's got great feeling, but obviously Moragard a genius when it comes to that. What he's done really well is he's mixed up his pragmatism with these kind of shots that just get the crowd going. And it's a smart play. If you can put one away. Using this to serve as an attack there. Five and six. Düder playing it into the middle. Yeah, as instructed. Into that right pocket of Charles Moragard. Looking to get on the forehand then, but it's Moragard who came up with the answer. I'd say that Charles Moragard actually has an underrated level of power. Look at these forehands. There's a violence to his game at times. These fans loving it. Fans of all generations united in their support of their hero. Seven, six. Crafty shot from Benedikt Düder. He manages to nullify the spin on the serve. Actually deadens the ball. Seven, all. He's had it three times since the time out. He'll take anything he can get. What he's also got to do as we get towards the business end of this game is not let it slip away as the last one did. These Swedish fans are amazing. They were a little bit quieter early on in the week and they have just got louder and louder as this has gone on. Through him, they dare to dream. He's bringing the heat and Düder just can't live with it at the moment. It's a two-point lead, a critical stage, not just of the game, but the match. He's possessed by his ambition here, Charles Moragard. And sometimes with respect to talents, their focus can sway. Oh, he took edges to the forehand there. Apologises to Benedikt Düder. But it was coming, wasn't it? Düder knew that he was owed one or two or even maybe three and a little bit of fortune there with the contact. And it sets him up now for a three games to love lead because he has three game points. Great serve. Düder's hated it. Düder has absolutely hated this long, fast serve to backhand. Long one. Charles takes a long, lingering look at his opponent. Düder doesn't give much away, but he must be under so much pressure. Here just aura farming with some of the shots that he's playing. He'll ride the wave of the fans. That was a nasty shot. And of course, he'll try and pull out chop blocks and all sorts of things because he knows he's been hitting beautiful winners all night long. Oh, what an amazing shot. How on earth did he do that? You know, this is one of the amazing things about Moragard as well. He can touch a long push. Not many have the hands to do that jump. Sublime talent on show here. Whether in defence or attack, he's not put a foot wrong, Charles Moragard. And he's turning this now into something very, very special. And well, he wants to send a statement to Lin Shidong, the world number one. He wants to batter Düder, get through to the final, get a good night's rest and strike any chords of concern that he can. And I don't want to take anything away from Simon Gauzy because he is one of the magicians of the modern era. But Moragard isn't one to lose in those positions where he gets in front. Thinking about it, I can't recall ever seeing Moragard bottle a lead. And when he's got the Viking thunderclap behind him, as we heard there. Yeah, you're right. His record tells us he's great in deciders. He's a great front runner when it comes to the end of matches. But right now, he's racing to a potential victory here. Again, Düder just needs anything he can get. He's just being left, Düder, to feed off the scraps. He must be hoping for a drop in focus here. Because there's no stopping Moragard otherwise. He's a runaway train. He's made life so uncomfortable for the German here. And that's been a feature of this match. It's not about the winners. It's about what he's done to negate Düder. Absolutely. And then he gets that one off the end of the table. So it's all adding up now, potentially, to an early finish. Off the bounce. That's not coming back, is it? A chop smash from Moragard. And he flexes his muscles there. I'm sure we'll see the Hercules, if he gets through this one. In a match like this, the result is all that matters. But he's turning it into a spectacle too. Because this now feels like the finishing straight for Charles Moragard. Who has led all the way. Who is stretching away every single shot he plays. He's won 13 of the last 16. He's looking to finish in style here. 4-9. Düder's not going to give him anything. He won't roll over. Let's just say this. It's been a solid outing from the German men here. At the Europe Smash. But I think that their fun will end here. Yeah, it saw his great friend and teammate, Deng Chao, have a great run. But come unstuck, fairly substantially. And it now looks as if the same fate is going to befall another of Yov Roskov's players here. Done so well this week. Stoppage rolls. Oh, well played, Düder. 9-6. He's done well here. A couple of points go his way. Deng Chao. And time for a timeout. Just to build the drama and sense of occasion even more. Choose a way to set up four match points. That would probably be right up there. Yeah, that was a Mona Lisa masterpiece. Have it put away there for Moragard. Moragard magic.