The Asian tour of Alsatian licensees ended this Thursday morning in Shenzhen with the elimination of the last two in the round of 16 of the China Masters (Super 750). The Mulhouseian Thom Gicquel, 17e mixed world championship with the Camblysienne Delphine Delrue, and the Strasbourg Alex Lanier, 16e in singles, both fell in three sets against rivals they knew perfectly well having already faced them three times. They saw the quarter doors close in front of them.
Of the two, the Red Star player is the one who can harbor the most regrets. With his Oisian partner, he certainly conceded his third defeat against the Malaysians Chen Tang Jie and Toh Ee Wei, 10es and seeded No. 4 (21-14, 21-23, 8-21). But the 2024 European champions, finalists on Sunday in Japan, came very close to qualifying as they led 18-16 in the second set after winning the first. They then saved two shuttlecocks, but gave in on the third. Destabilized by the cruel epilogue of this second act, they lost their footing in the third.
Alex Lanier had nevertheless come out of the bottom of the hole
More clear in its progress, the failure of Alex Lanier against the Hong Konger Ng Ka Long Angus, 19e (15-21, 21-18, 13-21), nonetheless also exudes a scent of unfinished business. In distress in the first set after a catastrophic start (0-8), despite coming close at 12-14, the Strasbourg postman was still manhandled for a long time in the second (8-14). But he managed to resurface thanks to an 8-0 (16-14) and return to a set everywhere.
Unfortunately for him, he lost too quickly in the decisive round to give himself a chance of winning and lost without discussion, even if, in a last stand, he also saved two shuttlecocks. match. Ng Ka Long Angus, winner for the second time in four duels, will therefore have the privilege of challenging double Danish Olympic champion Viktor Axelsen in the quarters.
For their part, Thom Gicquel and Alex Lanier will not play again before 2025 on the international scene, unless there is a change in program.
