On June 15, following the conclusion of the 2024/25 German Bundesliga men’s team final, 44‑year‑old German legend and former world champion Timo Boll announced his retirement after losing his final two matches and his team falling short. After more than twenty years of competing against China’s national team—and defeating 15 Chinese world champions—the man who once kept Liu Guoliang up at night is hanging up his paddle. Fans worldwide wished him well: “All the best for the future!”
Born March 8, 1981, in Obernfeld, Germany, Boll emerged as a national star in the 1990s and rose to global prominence in the early 2000s.
In 2002, Boll reached the pinnacle of his career by winning the World Cup, European Championships, and Europe Cup singles titles—including victories over top Chinese players Wang Liqin and Kong Linghui. He reclaimed the World Cup in 2005, defeating three Chinese mainstays—Wang Liqin, Ma Lin, and Wang Hao—to win the tournament
Remarkably, at the 2017 World Cup, the 36‑year‑old Boll still managed to defeat Chinese star Lin Gaoyuan and Ma Long, before losing in the final to teammate Dimitrij Ovtcharov, in a performance that reverberated across the table tennis world
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By 2025, Boll had accumulated wins over 15 Chinese world champions—including Kong Linghui, Wang Liqin, Ma Lin, Wang Hao, Liu Guozheng, Chen Qi, Hao Shuai, Qiu Yike, Zhang Chao, Zhang Jike, Ma Long, Xu Xin, Fang Bo, Lin Gaoyuan, and Yu Ziyang—making him the most successful non‑Chinese player against China since Waldner
However, age gradually took its toll: from the last Olympic cycle, Boll’s world ranking dropped, though in 2024 he still scored notable international wins—such as beating Tomokazu Harimoto and Lin Yun‑ju—but ultimately missed selection for the Paris Olympics singles, playing only in the team event. Afterward, he stepped away from international ranking and global tournaments .
He chose to conclude his career in club leagues, extending his competitive run by a few months—but in June 2025, it was time for one final bow.
On June 1, Boll played in the European Champions League final with Borussia Düsseldorf, losing 1–3 to Saarbrücken after falling 1–3 to Darko Jorgic in singles On June 15, in the Bundesliga final in Frankfurt, he faced Brazil’s Hugo Calderano in a gripping 2–3 loss, then teamed with Anton Källberg in doubles where Düsseldorf fell 0–3 to Shunsuke Togami (Japan) and Simon Gauzy (France). Final score: Düsseldorf 2–3 Ochsenhausen
During his farewell match, he received a standing ovation from around 5,000 spectators, visibly moved as he thanked fans, friends, and family at the Süwag Energie Arena
Throughout his career, Boll was celebrated not just for his achievements, but also for his gracious sportsmanship—earning the nickname “the Gentleman of Table Tennis.” He developed deep friendships with players including Fan Zhendong and Ma Long, symbolizing goodwill between nations.
Although Boll is retiring from professional competition, he’s not leaving the sport. On June 11, the European Table Tennis Union announced he will become an ambassador for German table tennis, working alongside Borussia Düsseldorf and sponsors like ARAG to promote the sport—especially among youth
