Today was the time for Truls Möregårdh to enter the WTT Champions Doha. The opponent Kanak Jha felt in advance like a clever draw in the round of 16, but Truls were on their toes from start to finish and advance after a comfortable 3–0 victory.
During Thursday, it was Truls Möregårdh’s turn to step onto the black floor in the Lusail Sports Arena and make this year’s competition debut. National team colleague Anton Källberg went out on Wednesday, which means that Truls was the only Swede left in WTT Champions Doha before today’s round of 16.
Truls was pitted in his opening match against Kanak Jha, USA. The American had a strong 2025, which he showed, among other things, when he defeated Möregårdh in the Singapore Smash in February.
Hungry for revenge, or perhaps just hungry for the game, Truls Möregårdh stepped into the match and immediately showed how tough he was. The first set went quickly both in the duels and on the clock, when the Swede took the lead 11-2 after more or less flawless play.
Kanak then rose to a more dignified level, and the second set was initially even, although Truls continued to play well. At 6-4 to Möregårdh, his opponent had barely won a ball when he was forced to defend, but in this set was better at finding his own attacks than in the first.
However, towards the end of the set, Truls found more accuracy in serve and return, and was able to comfortably go up to a 2-0 lead when he hit the set point to make it 11-6.
The overrun continues in the third. The large class difference for the day is reminded all the way up to 10-6, where a slight loss of focus allows Kanak Jha to really tweak the numbers. At 10-10, however, Truls felt it was enough, and decided the match after two well-played points.
In the opening days in Qatar, we have seen several top players not up to their usual level, as can often be the case after a period off. However, that did not apply to Truls, who in terms of level more or less started the year where the previous one ended.
He was especially strong in his own offense and the return game (won 74% of the balls in the opponent’s serve), which bodes well because these are parts of the game Truls tends to dominate in when he is really good.
In the round of 16, Truls Möregårdh meets the winner of Simon Gauzy, France, and Manav Thakkar, India, and there won’t be much rest. It is already tomorrow, Friday, that the Swede steps into the paddock again, at 16:05 Swedish time.
The competition is broadcast on SVT Play, and their broadcast schedule you will find here.
You will find results, draw and schedule here.
WTT Champions Doha 2026, 7-11 January 2026
Swedish matches, men’s singles
Truls Möregårdh – Kanak Jha, 3-0 (11-2, 11-6, 12-10)
Truls Möregårdh – Simon Gauzy/Manav Thakkar, round of 16, Friday 9 January, 16:05*
*The times are Swedish time
Bild: Truls Möregårdh during the WTT Finals 2025 Photo: WTT
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