French players have exited the men’s singles competition at the WTT Finals in Fukuoka, with Félix Lebrun losing to Benedikt Duda and Alexis Lebrun falling to Lin Shidong. Despite a strong start, Alexis lost the match 11-8, 7-11, 8-11, 4-11. However, the Lebrun brothers advanced to the doubles semifinals after defeating Japan’s Tomokazu Harimoto and Sora Matsushima 3-1, showcasing resilience and tactical adjustments. They will face fellow French players Esteban Dorr and Florian Bourrassaud next.
French Players Exit Men’s Singles at WTT Finals
The WTT Finals in Fukuoka have concluded for French players in the men’s singles category, mirroring the recent Masters in tennis. After Félix Lebrun’s defeat at the hands of German player Benedikt Duda, Alexis Lebrun faced a similar fate against the on-form Lin Shidong. Despite putting up a strong fight in the opening set, Alexis, ranked as France’s number two, was ultimately overwhelmed by his opponent, who has been dominating the circuit lately (11-8, 7-11, 8-11, 4-11).
The match began with Alexis taking the lead in the first set, even after a shaky start where he lost four consecutive points, trailing 2-4. However, the Montpellier athlete quickly regained his composure and seized control of the game, capitalizing on a few lucky breaks that visibly frustrated Lin. Alexis sealed the first set with a triumphant fist pump (11-8), but this initial success was only a fraction of what was needed to unsettle a world-class player like Lin, who has claimed five titles in the last two and a half months.
Lebrun Brothers Thrive in Doubles Competition
Despite the setback in singles, the WTT Finals are not over for the Lebrun brothers. They have advanced to the doubles semifinals after defeating the Japanese duo of Tomokazu Harimoto and Sora Matsushima with a score of 3-1 (6-11, 11-8, 15-13, 14-12). The match started off slowly for the brothers as they dropped the first set to the spirited Harimoto, who was buoyed by the home crowd. Nevertheless, the European champions showcased resilience, pulling through an intense fourth set where they squandered five match points (10-5 then 10-10). Ultimately, they clinched victory on their sixth attempt (14-12).
“This doubles match is a great satisfaction. It was a very strong performance,” expressed Nathanël Molin, the duo’s coach. “Félix had to bounce back after his singles loss, and Alexis was stepping into the match. I was impressed with their resilience throughout the game. They managed to adjust tactically, which made the opposition second-guess themselves. In the end, we truly dominated the match,” he added. The Lebruns now head into their upcoming match against fellow French players Esteban Dorr and Florian Bourrassaud, who secured their semifinal spot by overcoming the Hong Kong duo of Ho Kwan Kit and Siu Hang Lam in a thrilling five-set encounter (9-11, 8-11, 11-8, 12-10, 11-6).