Thank you for following this France-Belgium quarter-final on RMC Sport
It's over with this ultra-quick qualification of the Blues for the semi-finals of the European team championships.
It's simple, to overcome Belgium this Friday, France spent less than an hour fighting in total over all three singles contested.
Simon Gauzy won in 15'50'' while Félix Lebrun won in less than 18 minutes. Slowest of the three, Alexis Lebrun took a little longer… 18'30″ to win.
The semi-final will be followed live with commentary this Saturday on the RMC Sport website and application.
France qualified without trembling, towards an epic duel against Germany?
Like two years ago, already in the quarter-final, France dominates Belgium. Except that this time, the Blues did not tremble and signed a clear victory without any mistakes (3-0). It went very, very quickly in this quarter-final:
- Félix Lebrun-Cedric Nuytinck: 11-6, 11-4, 11-7
- Alexis Lebrun-Adrien Rassefosse: 11-4, 11-8, 11-5
- Simon Gauzy-Martin Allegro: 11-6, 11-7, 11-5
Félix Lebrun like his brother Alexis and Simon Gauzy were imperial and are now waiting to find out their opponent in the semi-final. It will either be Germany in a duel between the two favorites of the European team championships or against Croatia, host country of the competition.
Gauzy also delights and qualifies the Blues for the semi-finals
It's done, Simon Gauzy wins against Martin Allegro.
Simon Gauzy-Martin Allegro: 11-6, 11-7, 11-5
Gauzy unstoppable
The points keep coming and Simon Gauzy wins them. It goes very quickly in this third set.
Simon Gauzy-Martin Allegro: 11-6, 11-7, 8-4
Gauzy already stands out in the 3rd round
Weak point of this France team? Too strong. Like the Lebrun brothers, Simon Gauzy is going too fast for Martin Allegro. He is already ahead in the third set
Simon Gauzy-Martin Allegro: 11-6, 11-7, 5-2
Simon Gauzy on the same pace as Lebrun, already two sets to nothing
Simon Gauzy held the game tight to conclude this second round but it's done. The Frenchman will play a third set which could already offer qualification for the semi-finals to the Blues.
Simon Gauzy-Martin Allegro: 11-6, 11-7
Simon Gauzy plays against Allegro
No time to doubt for Simon Gauzy. The showman is very good in his match against Martin Allegro. He is getting closer to winning the second round.
Simon Gauzy-Martin Allegro: 11-6, 9-5
A beautiful duel in the 2nd set but Gauzy remains in the lead
The second set starts again with a strong rhythm and it is tight between the two players.
Simon Gauzy-Martin Allegro: 11-6, 5-3
Gauzy already wins the first set of the match
There was no hesitation at the start of the match and the points kept coming.
It works in favor of Simon Gauzy.
Simon Gauzy-Martin Allegro: 11-6
Here we go and Gauzy got into the match very well
The duel between Simon Gauzy and Martin Allegro is underway. It's balanced at the start of the match but the Frenchman is in front.
Simon Gauzy-Martin Allegro: 2-1
Gauzy for the last point?
18th in the world, Simon Gauzy will try to bring the last point to France in a few moments.
The Frenchman is favorite against the Belgian Martin Allegro (95th in the world).
As fast as Félix, Alexis Lebrun sweeps aside his Belgian rival
Like Félix before him, Alexis Lebrun set an enormous pace to win in three rounds. If Adrien Rassenfosse seemed capable of taking the second set, the Frenchman held the game tight.
Alexis Lebrun-Adrien Rassefosse: 11-4, 11-8, 11-5
Alexis Lebrun launched
This time the set is short and Alexis Lebrun flies away.
Alexis Lebrun-Adrien Rassefosse: 11-4, 11-8, 8-3
Alexis Lebrun must finish well now
After an alert at the start of the previous round, Alexis Lebrun did not slow down in the third set.
Alexis Lebrun-Adrien Rassefosse: 11-4, 11-8, 3-2
And here Alexis Lebrun leads two sets to nothing
After a small scare at the start of the set, Alexis Lebrun finally won. Still no round lost for the eldest of the Lebrun brothers.
Alexis Lebrun-Adrien Rassefosse: 11-4, 11-8
It's more balanced now for Alexis Lebrun
Alexis Lebrun equalizes in the second set. The Frenchman will try to switch to the right side.
Alexis Lebrun-Adrien Rassefosse: 11-4, 8-8
Alexis Lebrun is recovering well
Alexis Lebrun wakes up in this second set. Trailing by four points, the Frenchman is back within reach of the Belgian.
Alexis Lebrun-Adrien Rassefosse: 11-4, 5-6
Watch out for relaxation in the 2nd set
Adrien Rassenfosse finds solutions and leads against Alexis Lebrun at the start of the second set.
Alexis Lebrun-Adrien Rassefosse: 11-4, 1-5
Alexis Lebrun wins the first set in a few minutes
And there you have it, as quick as his brother, Alexis Lebrun wins the first set.
Alexis Lebrun-Adrien Rassefosse: 11-4
Alexis Lebrun in legs
The Frenchman does not tremble and keeps the pace of the previous laps. Alexis Lebrun signs a mini-break in the first set.
Alexis Lebrun-Adrien Rassefosse: 8-4
Alexis Lebrun is already in front
If the broadcaster prefers to broadcast an advertisement, the match has already started and Alexis Lebrun leads in the first round.
Alexis Lebrun-Adrien Rassefosse: 4-2
Still a few moments before Alexis Lebrun's match
The French number 2 will want to imitate his brother and offer a new point to France in this quarter-final.
Alexis Lebrun faces Adrien Rassenfosse (60th in the world) in a few moments.
Once again, the French player will want to assume his status as 12th in the world in a match where he is the favorite.
Expeditious, Félix Lebrun offers a first point to France
It's over and France leads one point to zero in this quarter-final against Belgium.
Félix Lebrun won in less than 18 minutes and three straight sets against Cedric Nuytinck.
Félix Lebrun-Cedric Nuytinck: 11-6, 11-4, 11-7
A small start from Nuutinck against Félix Lebrun
The Belgian plays a little more liberated and poses some problems for Félix Lebrun. But it shouldn't last.
Félix Lebrun-Cedric Nuytinck: 11-6, 11-4, 8-6
Félix Lebrun close to offering the first point to France
Despite the time-out taken by the Belgian, Félix Lebrun continues. The end of the match and the first point of the quarter are approaching for France.
Félix Lebrun-Cedric Nuytinck: 11-6, 11-4, 7-4
Félix Lebrun launched and almost unplayable
Nuytinck already up against the wall. Félix Lebrun does not slow down and accelerates from the start of the third set.
Félix Lebrun-Cedric Nuytinck: 11-6, 11-4, 6-3
And that makes two sets to zero for Félix Lebrun
Expeditious, Félix Lebrun got into this quarter-final very well and leads two rounds to nothing.
The best tricolor could quickly offer a first point to France.
Félix Lebrun-Cedric Nuytinck: 11-6, 11-4
Félix Lebrun unfolds
The second set is completely mastered by Félix Lebrun for the moment. The French sets a big pace
Félix Lebrun-Cedric Nuytinck: 11-6, 10-2
The crazy point won by Félix Lebrun
Huge defense from Félix who turns his opponent around to sign a mini-break at the start of the second set.
Félix Lebrun-Cedric Nuytinck: 11-6, 3-0
Félix Lebrun takes the first set!
Hanging on to the first points, Félix Lebrun accelerated to take the lead and win this first set quite quietly.
The Frenchman is good in this match.
Félix Lebrun-Cedric Nuytinck: 11-6
Félix Lebrun is already standing out
The 19-year-old Frenchman got into his match well and already stood out in the first set.
Félix Lebrun-Cedric Nuytinck: 8-4
It's balanced but Félix Lebrun in the lead
Balanced start to the match between the two men. 4-3 for the Frenchman in this first set between Félix Lebrun and Cedric Nuytinck.
Here we go for Félix Lebrun and the France-Belgium quarter
Both players are warming up before their match. Recent finalist of the China Smash, the last Grand Slam tournament of the season, Félix Lebrun is logically favorite.
Still a few minutes before the France-Belgium duel
With Slovenia's victory in four matches against Portugal, the quarter-final between France and Belgium will begin at 1 p.m. as planned.
French number 1 and fifth in the world, Félix Lebrun will start against Cedric Nuytinck (120th in the world).
The quarter-final table
In the event of qualification for the last four, the Blues will have to wait a few hours to know the name of their opponent.
A possible semi-final for France will be against Germany for a spectacular ultra or for a heated encounter against Croatia playing at home. This shift is scheduled for 4 p.m. in Zadar.
In the other part of the table, Slovenia has just eliminated Portugal (3-1) and will face either Truls Moregard's Sweden or Romania for a place in the final.
Quarter posters:
- Slovenia-Portugal: 3-1
- France-Belgium at 1 p.m.
- Germany-Croatia at 4 p.m.
- Sweden-Romania at 7 p.m.
It's almost time for the France-Belgium quarter, Félix Lebrun to start the Blues
We are waiting for the end of the quarter between Portugal and Slovenia but the start of this France-Belgium match is still scheduled for 1 p.m. We know the posters:
- Félix Lebrun-Cedric Nuytinck at 1pm
- Alexis Lebrun-Adrien Rassefosse
- Simon Gauzy-Martin Allegro
And if necessary to decide between the two teams:
- Félix Lebrun-Adrien Rassenfosse
- Alexis Lebrun-Cedric Nuytinck
Alexis Lebrun is full of confidence in the European team competitions
Injured for a long time and eliminated prematurely at the China Smash, Alexis Lebrun regained his confidence during the first rounds of the European team championships.
Good news before the WTT Champions in Montpellier, at home, which will begin in a few days (from October 28 to November 2 exclusively on the channels YouTube et Twitch RMC Sport).
Conquering Blues in Croatia
France easily won against Slovakia this Thursday in the round of 16 of the European team table tennis championships. The players and their coach Nathanaël Molin are ready for the next round and are happy not to have “left any feathers” in the first rounds.
>> Speedy debut for the Blues in Europe
Hello everyone,
From 1 p.m., don't miss the quarter-final of the French men's table tennis team at the European Championships. The trio composed of Félix and Alexis Lebrun as well as Simon Gauzy will try to overcome Belgium in the quarter-finals.
A duel where the Blues will be favorites and which could put them on the road to a potential monumental shock in the last four against Germany (who will face local players from Croatia).
