Felix Lebrun celebrated an incredible victory at the WTT Champions de Montpellier, becoming the first European to win this elite tournament by defeating Japan’s Tomokazu Harimoto. Earlier, he triumphed over his brother Alexis in a thrilling quarter-final. The event also saw Felix knock out former adversaries and showcase his skills, culminating in a stunning win against Harimoto in the final. This achievement marks a historic moment for French table tennis and the Lebrun family.
When one sibling shines, the other quickly follows. Just last week, Alexis Lebrun, the elder brother, celebrated his victory as the European champion after defeating Germany’s Duda in the finals.
This past Sunday, it was Felix’s turn to make headlines. Competing in Hérault at the WTT Champions in Montpellier, the world’s 7th-ranked player triumphed over Japan’s Tomokazu Harimoto with a scoreline of 11-7, 11-9, 11-6, 8-11, 11-4. This victory marks a significant milestone as Felix becomes the first Frenchman and the first European ever to win a tournament of this stature.
A Match Against a Teammate
The European doubles champion kicked off his run against teammate Simon Gauzy, who ranks 39th and partnered with him to earn a bronze medal at the Paris Olympics this summer. Felix secured a hard-fought victory in straight sets: 11-8, 11-9, 12-10.
Fueled by the electric atmosphere of the Montpellier Arena, Felix then faced off against former rival Peng Xiang from China in the round of 16, emerging victorious in four sets with scores of 11-3, 12-10, 5-11, 11-7.
An Historic Face-Off with His Brother
The quarter-finals featured a thrilling showdown between the Lebrun brothers, showcasing legendary moments and intense rallies. Notably, a remarkable point during a disputed third set (16-14) saw over twenty exchanges, with Felix ultimately emerging as the victor, even after Alexis had made an impressive defensive effort, ending up on the floor.
“That point was absolutely wild,” Felix laughed afterward. “He gets it back, and then he’s joking around.” Alexis added with a chuckle, “We exchanged glances afterward and laughed; that’s the kind of point you usually only see in practice.”
In a closely contested match, Felix ultimately claimed victory in four sets: 11-6, 7-11, 16-14, 11-9, marking his first triumph over his older brother. Up until that point in 2024, Alexis had taken two previous victories over Felix, including in the quarter-finals of the European Top 16 earlier this year.
Chasing Historic Glory in the Final
The semi-final was electrified by the chant, “Qui ne saute pas n’est pas Lebrun,” sung in unison by the Collectif Ultra Lebrun, affectionately known as “C.U.L.” The stakes were high as Felix faced the world’s number two, Lin Shidong, who had been undefeated in the tournament up to that point.
Yet, propelled by the support of the local crowd, Felix turned the tide, winning decisively in four straight sets: 14-12, 11-9, 11-9, 11-3. After this monumental victory, he focused on the upcoming final, stating confidently, “There’s still one match to go, and we’re going to do it all together to claim this title.”
The championship match saw Felix face world No. 8 Tomokazu Harimoto. Without a hint of hesitation, Felix delivered a flawless performance, winning in four sets with scores of 11-7, 11-9, 11-6, 8-11, 11-4, etching his name further into the annals of table tennis history.