Oriental Sports Daily: Season Debut - The Unrivaled Aura of Fan Zhendong
Front page & Page A9 special report by Oriental Sports Daily (Aug 24, 2026): Fan Zhendong scores 2 points in his Düsseldorf debut, receives special city honor and signs the 'Golden Book' (Goldenes Buch).
Newspaper Clipping: Oriental Sports Daily (Monday, August 24, 2026 - Page A9)
Page Editor: Li Jiashan
Reporter: Cheng Chao
Lead: In the early hours of August 23 (Beijing time), Round 2 of the 2026–2027 German Table Tennis Bundesliga (TTBL) took place. Representing his new club Borussia Düsseldorf at home against Königshofen, Fan Zhendong played as the first singles and claimed 2 pivotal points, steering the team to their first home victory of the new season.
Season Debut: The Unrivaled Aura of Fan Zhendong
— The Bond of the “White Shoes” and the “Seasoned Veteran”
From Saarbrücken to Düsseldorf, Fan Zhendong not only changed jerseys and home arenas, but also switched the footwear he had used for years. The clean, lightweight white shoes on his feet symbolized starting anew.
Fan Zhendong’s debut drew legions of passionate fans. The ARAG CenterCourt, with a capacity of just over 1,000, was far from sufficient to meet spectator demand, prompting the club to relocate the fixture to the 4,000-seat Mitsubishi Electric Halle.
Since the TTBL Grand Finals on May 31, Fan had been away from official competition for nearly three months. Confronting him across the table were familiar rivals from last season—Bertelsmeier and Zeljko. Coincidentally, they had also faced off in Round 2 of the previous season, meaning opponents arrived armed with detailed tactical blueprints, asking the fundamental question: Has he changed? Can he adapt?
The answer unfolded on court. In the opening match against 20-year-old German rising star Andre Bertelsmeier, Fan started steadily while his opponent brought fierce backhand pressure. After dropping the first game, Fan adjusted his serve tactics, pinning his opponent with long balls before taking over the rally battles to secure a 3-1 comeback.
After teammate Kanak Jha fell 1-3 to Zeljko, German star Dang Qiu fought through five grueling games to defeat Liao Cheng-Ting 3-2, restoring Düsseldorf’s lead. Post-match, Dang Qiu remarked: “Playing as teammates with Fan Zhendong for the first time was fantastic—he brings an immense sense of security and reassurance.”
In the fourth match against Croatia’s Filip Zeljko, Fan displayed masterclass control to seal the club’s victory.
Beyond the two points and home opener victory lies a deeper narrative: When the entire world studies your game, how do you keep winning? Fan Zhendong relies not on mystique, but on versatility grounded in supreme core strength. Remaining calm after dropping an opening game shows meticulous preparation; staying composed when pressured demonstrates high resilience.
The “white shoes” are just the exterior; a champion’s heart is Fan’s true foundation. That composure under pressure remains unchanged. On August 29, Fan will lead the club in the German Cup Round of 16 as his European journey turns a brilliant new chapter.
Special Honor from the Mayor: Signing the “Golden Book”
Ahead of Düsseldorf’s home opener, the club hosted a grand unveiling conference for Fan Zhendong. The Mayor of Düsseldorf attended in person to present Fan with a special city honor and invite him to sign the prestigious Goldenes Buch (Golden Book).
The Golden Book is the city of Düsseldorf’s highest official honorary registry, reserved exclusively for distinguished individuals who have made outstanding contributions to urban development, cultural exchange, and civic society. During the ceremony, Fan presented the Mayor with his personalized club jersey as a symbol of Sino-German cultural and athletic friendship.
Fan delivered his remarks fluently in English with poise and ambition: “I am very honored to be here. I am excited to start this new journey. I will do my best to follow in Timo Boll’s footsteps and build my own legacy for the club and this city.”
This marks Fan’s second consecutive season in Germany. In the 2025–2026 season with FC Saarbrücken-TT, he led the team to an unprecedented Treble (German Cup, Champions League, Bundesliga). Joining Bundesliga powerhouse Borussia Düsseldorf under a one-year deal, his teammates include German star Dang Qiu, Sweden’s Anton Källberg, and USA’s Kanak Jha.
Reflecting on his second year, Fan noted: “This is my second year in Germany and a new chapter in my career. Boll shared a lot about Düsseldorf’s club and culture with me, which I find fascinating. I hope to keep learning and improving. Perhaps I can do even better than last season.”
Club manager Andreas Preuß highlighted Fan’s unprecedented global impact: “Our social media attention has surged roughly 500 times. We are reaching more people worldwide than ever before—more media, more fans, more sponsors. Cultural exchange between Germany and China has blossomed.”
Financial data further validates Fan’s immense drawing power: the TTBL generated approximately €52.33 million in total revenue and €5.78 million in net profit during the 2025–2026 season (reversing an overall loss of €2.75 million in 2024–2025), driven predominantly by commercial expansion surrounding Fan Zhendong.
Reporter’s View: Overcoming the Language and Adaptation Barriers
During the season press conference, a telling moment occurred: when a reporter offered to translate a question into Chinese, the host requested English only and politely checked whether Fan needed interpretation. Fan smiled and replied: “I understand.”
A year ago in Saarbrücken, Fan’s debut remarks were delivered primarily in Chinese in an unfamiliar environment. Today, he conducts full English interviews with ease, seamlessly balancing precision and lighthearted humor.
Language is a bridge, and Fan has firmly crossed it. Even more impressive is how quickly he adapted on the court: from losing his Bundesliga opener a year ago to turning a deficit around within a single game this year. Both milestones reflect how an elite athlete rapidly masters his own tempo in a foreign environment.
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