The first Frenchman to qualify for the Grand Slam table tennis final, Félix Lebrun was unable to compete against the Chinese world number 1, Wang Chuqin. A demonstration in four small sets which will not make us forget the historic journey of the Tricolore.
It was just too hard. Félix Lebrun lost this Sunday in the final of the Beijing Grand Smash, the equivalent of a Grand Slam tournament in tennis, beaten very clearly by the Chinese world No. 1 Wang Chuqin in four sets 11-7, 11-2, 11-5, 11-7.
Félix Lebrun, 7th in the world, was the first Frenchman to play in a Grand Smash final. The bronze medalist at the 2024 Paris Olympics individually was no match for the world No. 1, outclassed by the double gold medalist from the last Olympics, in mixed doubles and teams.
A feat in the semi-finals
From the start to the end of the match, the Chinese imposed his superiority, never trembling at the moments that counted. Despite a few dazzling points, Félix Lebrun never managed to take the game into his own hands, suffering the attacks of the one who found his best level at home. It was not until the middle of the fourth set that the Frenchman took the lead twice. But in vain.
>> Relive the historic final between Félix Lebrun and Wang Chuquin at WTT China Smash
A little earlier this Sunday morning, Félix Lebrun amazed French table tennis fans by knocking out Chinese world No. 2 Lin Shidong in six sets (11-6, 11-6, 11-9, 6-11, 7-11, 11-5). A player he had not faced for almost a year, in the semi-final of the WTT Champions in Montpellier. At the time, he easily beat him 4 sets to 0 before winning in the final to become the first Frenchman to win a Champions, a sort of Masters 1000 in tennis.
The next meeting of world table tennis will take place from October 20 to 26 in London during the WTT Star Contender London 2025. Then the best table tennis players in the world will meet in Montpellier from October 28 to November 2 for the WTT Champions Montpellier 2025. This same tournament that Félix Lebrun won in 2024. This year, he will be keen to make it two.
