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A win for Aruna would be historic, making him the first African male player to reach the quarterfinal stage of the WTT Champions.
Quadri Aruna will face another formidable challenge when he takes on Germany’s Richardo Walther on Wednesday, November 6, in the second round of the Men’s Singles at the WTT Champions Frankfurt.
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The Nigerian, currently ranked world No. 21, made headlines by stunning world No. 8 Tomokazu Harimoto of Japan with a thrilling 3-2 comeback in his opening match at the Süwag Energie Arena.
Aruna’s victory over Harimoto marks his second win at the WTT Champions, following his first triumph at the WTT Champions Montpellier last week.
Meanwhile, Walther, making his debut at the WTT Champions, had a dream start by defeating Spain’s Alvaro Robles 3-0 (11-6, 12-10, 11-9) in the first round on Tuesday, November 5.
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11:43 - 04.11.2024
Nigeria's Aruna Quadri defeats Japan's Harimoto in WTT Champions Frankfurt
Legendary Tennis icon Aruna fought back to defeat Japan's Harimoto despite losing the first two sets.
The match is set to be a familiar encounter, as Aruna and Walther have previously faced each other in the German Bundesliga.
A win for Aruna would be historic, making him the first African male player to reach the quarterfinal stage of the WTT Champions, a feat achieved by Egypt’s Hana Goda in the women’s category at the WTT Champions Montpellier.
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The clash promises to be explosive, with the world No. 60 Walther taking on the world No. 21 Aruna.
The home fans will undoubtedly support their local hero against the “adopted” Nigerian star, who has become a household name in Germany following his remarkable performance at the 2014 ITTF World Cup in Düsseldorf, where he became the first African to reach the quarterfinal stage.
Aruna’s success in the German Bundesliga has paved the way for many African players to join the lucrative league, and he remains a fan favorite across Germany.
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15:44 - 09.10.2024
Nigeria names squad for 2024 African table tennis Championships in Ethiopia
Quadri Aruna, Olajide Omotayo, Ajoke Ojomu, and Fatimo Bello are joined by promising young talents Matthew Kuti, Muiz Adegoke, Abdulbasit Abdulfatai, Aishat Rabiu, Hope Udoaka, and Aziza Sezuo for the championship in Ethiopia.
However, the immense support Aruna received against Harimoto might be less when he faces Walther in what promises to be a battle royale.
In other news, Egyptian teenager Hana Goda was eliminated in the first round of the Women’s Singles by her experienced Chinese opponent He Zhuojia, who won 3-1 (11-2, 11-1, 8-11, 11-4).
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