Guided by Fan Zhendong? 33-Year-Old Franziska Ends 6-Year, 9-Match Losing Streak Against Tomokazu Harimoto, Thanks Fans in Chinese

33-year-old Franziska rarely faced Tomokazu Harimoto with confidence—he had lost all nine matches against the Japanese star over the past six years. But last night, history was rewritten. After six years of perseverance, Franziska finally celebrated a hard-earned victory.

In the Singapore Grand Slam men’s singles round of 16, Harimoto, ranked 4th in the world, was widely expected to defeat 23rd-ranked Franziska. The first game seemed to confirm predictions, with Harimoto winning easily. But Franziska bounced back, taking the next two games. In the decider, he trailed 1-3, yet held his nerve to win 11-8. After the match, he smiled for the first time in a long while and bowed to the crowd. Chinese fans in the stands cheered him on throughout, giving him a near-home advantage.

In the German Bundesliga club Saarbrücken, Franziska is captain while Fan Zhendong is his teammate. The two share a close bond, often supporting each other. Netizens joked that Franziska’s victory over his career-long rival Harimoto might have been guided by Fan Zhendong behind the scenes.

After the match, Franziska thanked the fans in Chinese, saying “謝謝,” showing his appreciation. Next up, he will face Lin Yun-Ju, against whom he has never previously won—a fresh challenge awaits.