When Möregårdh hit the match ball for 11-8, he could hardly believe his eyes and just smiled and took in the moment in the latest chapter in his history book.
22-year-old Möregårdh is the first Swede to play in an Olympic final since Jan-Ove Waldner won a silver in Sydney 2000.
OS i Paris 2024
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Truls Möregårdh shocked after the Olympic semi-final: “Absolutely crazy”. Photo: SVT
Truls: “Don’t know if I’ve ever done it”
In the first set, 19-seeded Möregårdh turned 4-10 to win the set 12-10 after fourth-seeded Calderano became increasingly nervous.
– Don’t know if I ever turned 4-10 against such a good player. I assumed they were stressed and it was noticeable at 7-10, says Möregårdh.
In the second set, Calderano stopped the bleeding and Möregårdh got out of rhythm after the referee ruled out a serve where the Swede was considered to have hidden the ball in her hand before the throw. Möregårdh decided on his third set point and won the set 16-14 after all, having saved three set points himself.
The final on Sunday 14.30
After two tough sets, Calderano won the third quite easily with 11-7 after more varied serves. Möregårdh raced through the fourth set and won it 11-7 to advance to an important 3-1. Möregårdh was two points from winning at 9-9 in the fifth set but lost it 10-12.
In the final, Chinese world number four Fan Zhendong awaits on Sunday at 14.30. There will be a repeat of the WC final in 2021, which the Chinese won 4-0.
– It’s completely crazy and must be one of the biggest shocks ever, I’m unseeded and have had a bad year but I have a lot of confidence in big tournaments and will believe in myself until I stand there with the gold medal, says Möregårdh.
