This Saturday, Alex Lanier saw his adventure at the Danish Open end in the semi-finals, beaten by the Japanese Koki Watanabe with a score of 21-15, 21-13. This defeat puts an end to his invincibility in Super 750 category tournaments, but also marks an important step in the meteoric rise of the young French player, aged only 19. Despite fatigue and a difference in experience, this week confirmed his emergence at the highest world level.
It doesn’t work out for Alex LANIER in the semi-final of the #DenmarkOpen 😔. Exhausted by his shift the day before, he lost 16/21 13/21 against Koki WATANABE (n°13) 🇯🇵
With these results, he should reach a historic ranking for a men’s singles 🇫🇷🙏
🔜 #HyloOpen from 10/29 to 11/3 pic.twitter.com/JHebMiHIBD
— FFBaD (@FFBaD) October 19, 2024
End of Series for the Lanier Phenomenon
Before this tournament, Alex Lanier had the distinction of never having lost in a Super 750 competition. Indeed, during his first participation in a tournament of this scale, the Japan Open last August, the young Frenchman had created surprise by imposing itself. Arriving at the Danish Open with this dynamic, he hoped to repeat the feat in a tournament that he was discovering for the first time.
Unfortunately, the adventure ended in the semi-final against a formidable opponent, Koki Watanabe, ranked 13th in the world and much more experienced. Aged 25, Watanabe was able to exploit the physical exhaustion of the Frenchman, who had played longer and more intense matches throughout the week, including a grueling 1h20 quarter-final the day before. The two additional sets played by Lanier during his previous meetings weighed heavily in the balance, and the latter finally gave in in two sets.
Physical and Mental Fatigue
Lanier was clearly hampered by fatigue. From the first exchanges, he showed signs of pain in his legs and struggled to find his usual sensations. “I feel disconnected,” he told his coach Kestutis Navickas after losing the first set. Faced with Watanabe, a particularly mobile and energetic player, the solutions were quickly reduced for the young Frenchman. At the start of the second round, he tried to shorten the exchanges so as not to draw too much on his last resources, but his body was no longer responding as he would have liked. This physical fight precipitated his defeat, but the fact remains that Lanier’s performance during this tournament remains extremely impressive.
A meteoric rise
Despite this defeat, Alex Lanier has come an incredible way in recent weeks. Continuing tournaments between Japan, Finland, and now Denmark, the young prodigy has beaten renowned opponents. Among his recent feats of arms, we can cite victories against Shi Yu Qi, the reigning world number 1, Anders Antonsen, European champion, as well as Viktor Axelsen, double Olympic champion. These high-level performances allowed Lanier to establish himself as a serious contender on the international badminton scene.
Beyond his prestigious victories, this week in Odense will mark a turning point in Lanier’s career. By reaching the semi-finals of this Danish Open, he is now assured of becoming the new French number 1 in the next world ranking, thus overtaking Toma Junior Popov. In addition, calculations from the International Badminton Federation (BWF) suggest that he could reach 17th place in the world, a ranking never equaled by a French player in men’s singles.
The FUTURE is now 🇫🇷🇫🇷
Alex Lanier will jump 6️⃣ stairs after finish as semifinalist of Denmark Open 2024. He will also rewrite the history as the highest-ranked French Men’s Singles player in history! It’s only a matter of time for him to go even higher 🚀🚀 #BadmintonEurope pic.twitter.com/Fqg0hTLtRb
— Badminton Europe (@badmintoneropa) October 19, 2024
Challenges Ahead
At only 19 years old, Alex Lanier still has a lot to learn and improve. His technical and tactical abilities are undeniable, but he still needs to progress in the physical and mental management of very high-level tournaments, where the sequence of matches can be particularly trying. Nonetheless, his recent performances are a testament to his growing maturity and ability to compete with the best players in the world.
Lanier therefore emerges from this tournament not as a simple participant, but as a true winner, despite the defeat. His progress is dazzling and there is no doubt that this young talent will continue to make a name for himself on international stages in the months and years to come.
Conclusion: Alex Lanier, the Future of French Badminton
Although his unbeaten streak in Super 750 tournaments has come to an end, Alex Lanier demonstrated this week that he has his place among the best. His qualification for the semi-finals of the Danish Open, after beating several big names in world badminton, underlines his immense potential. With his imminent passage to the status of French number 1 and constant progression in the world rankings, Alex Lanier is establishing himself as an essential figure in the future of French badminton. There is still a long way to go, but everything suggests that this young prodigy has not finished impressing the world of sport.
