The two best players in the world, Wang Chuqin and Lin Shidong, have withdrawn from the WTT in Montpellier (October 28-November 2). Title holder, Félix Lebrun will be present, as will his brother Alexis and Simon Gauzy, recent European team champions with the French team.
A year after Félix Lebrun's coronation at home, the WTT Champions of Montpellier is back from October 28 and until November 2 at the Sud de France Arena. After their historic coronation during the European team championships, Félix and Alexis Lebrun, as well as Simon Gauzy, appear on the list of players registered for the Montpellier tournament. On the other hand, the two best players in the world, Wang Chuqin (No. 1) and Lin Shidong (No. 2) are missing, as is number 6 Liang Jingkun.
These packages allow Félix Lebrun, world number 7, to be seeded number 4, which ensures that he avoids huge shocks – before the semi-finals – against Hugo Calderano, Tomokazu Harimoto and Truls Moregard. On the other hand, Alexis (seeded number 9) can be confronted with the big names of the discipline much earlier in the tournament. The massacre is also visible in the women's draw, since the n°1 (Sun Yingsha) and n°2 (Wang Manyu) will not compete in the WTT Champions.
A wildcard for Coton
Ready to experience Montpellier for the first time, Flavien Coton is preparing for his debut in WTT Champions. At just 17 years old, the young Frenchman is causing a sensation in 2025, winning his first senior title last April and recently qualifying for the round of 16 of the China Smash 2025. Another expected Habs, Thibault Poret is experiencing a meteoric rise. Last month, the 21-year-old won a place in the top 16 at the WTT Champions stage in Macau.
The tournament organized in Montpellier is the equivalent of a Masters 1000 in tennis, since the winner wins 1000 points for the world ranking. Every point earned throughout the WTT Series counts, as the biggest names in table tennis battle to qualify for the WTT Finals Hong Kong 2025.
