Truls Möregårdh did not win the sets with any huge margins. And in the second set, Möregårdh was behind 6–8, but then stepped on the gas and won five balls in a row and the set 11–8.
The world star defeated the Belgian Florent Lambiet with 4–0 in sets (11–6, 11–8, 11–8, 11–5) and could make his patented goal celebration by going down on his knees and raising his hand to his head.
I played very good table tennis, he says to SVT.
During the match, he hit several shots with a two-handed grip, like in tennis.
I watched a lot of tennis when I was in China last. I got inspired by Alcaraz (Carlos). The first two were really good, then it got a bit too cocky. It was maybe a bit stupid, says Möregårdh to SVT.
I did it mostly as a show. That's a lot of my game, then I play better table tennis, he says to Radiosporten.
Mattias Falck, who was eliminated from the Olympic Games in Paris, is also through to the second round after a 4–1 win over the Czech Lubomir Jancarik.
It was even easier for Kristian Karlsson, who defeated Joao Monteiro, Portugal, with 4–0. Therefore, a Swedish-Swedish match awaits Karlsson in the next round, where he will face Anton Källberg. Later in the evening, he also won his first match against the Polish Maciej Kubik with 4–3.
Earlier in the day, the Swedish women also advanced from the first round. Linda Bergström defeated Alexandra Chiriacova, Macedonia. Stina Källberg beat Ines Matos, Portugal, but only through 11–7 in the seventh and decisive set.
