The journey of Félix and Alexis Lebrun stops in the semi-finals of the World Championships in Doha in Qatar. They bowed three sets to one facing a Taiwanese pair. The Lebrun leave with a bronze medal from these Worlds.
How do you analyze your defeat?
Félix: We were a little surprised at the start of the match. They made us play a lot of bullets. Usually, we manage to manage the short game well. But even with the easy bullets, they managed to counter us every time. In the end, there were a lot of exchanges. We may not have good enough in there at the start. Over the match, we went up. We are on the verge of being 2-2. But we came back in the match. I think that once we managed to climb a notch, we were 50-50. But we left a little too late. They managed to have a hyper high intensity from the start, which we failed to have.
Alexis, we saw you, at times, moan a little on what you were doing. How did you live your match?
Alexis: It's hard. I am very disappointed. We were surprised by their ability to make us chain balls. This is where I sinned, because I wanted to play hard, to finish the points early. I took a long time before I understand that it was not necessarily the right approach. I think I could really have done better on this match. Both we could have done better. It's true that there, it's a bit hard that it stops like that, because I wanted to continue. Frankly, there, really disappointed.
We can summarize this match by saying that they won and that you have lost at the same time?
Alexis: I think they won more than you lost. Because their level since the start of the tournament, and what they have produced, I think it was a very high level double. There have been points to ten exchanges regularly. It almost never happens, it's really top level. Obviously, we always want to do better. I think they went to get it. We still made a beautiful tournament. It should not be forgotten either that I could not hold the racket the day before the competition. It's still a beautiful tournament. Afterwards, of course, a lot of regrets not to go get more. But hey, you still have to take advantage of what we did.
There are still these two global medals and this podium shared with Esteban and Florian. Does it give a little smile?
Félix: We will be next to them. It's going to be nice. We will live a beautiful moment together. For the moment, I don't think about it too much. But it is sure that it will be a good time that we are going to share the four of them and even with the whole French team.
Hot, does it have a slightly bitter taste, this bronze medal?
Félix: Yes and no. Yes, inevitably, defeat. No, because as Alexis said, we didn't even know if we were going to participate. We were sure of nothing. In the first round, we are led 2-0, we are direct in the bath. So, we are really very happy and proud, I think, what we did in duplicate here. But yes, when we arrive in the semi-finals, we want to get the title. So, inevitably, on that, there is disappointment.
Félix, what is your overall assessment?
Félix: I can't say negative because a global medal, it happens very rarely. And it's still something extraordinary. And I'm going to enjoy it. Afterwards, inevitably, I have my simple where I would have liked to go further. I felt good in competition. I felt like I could go a little further than what I did. But overall, if I had been told that I had a medal at the start of the competition, I would have signed directly. After competitions, we always want to do better. But as I say, if before the competition, I was told, I would have signed. So, in the end, it's still rather positive.
Alexis, you would have signed for this medal in view of the course you have had lately?
Alexis: Yes, that's for sure. I think I would have signed with both hands. But I am still under emotion. So, I find it hard to appreciate it. I am super pissed off, very disappointed. But yes, it's still a crazy thing what we did. And when it has been a bit past within an hour or two, I will be happy.
