It has already been more than three years, since the title at the Swiss Open in Basel on March 7, 2021, since Thom Gicquel (Étoile Rouge Mulhouse) and Delphine Delrue (Chambly) have not added their name to the list of winners of a World Tournament . Those who have since experienced continental recognition by becoming European champions last spring in Saarbrücken will have the opportunity this Sunday to return to victory on the world circuit during the Japan Masters (Super 500) in Kumamoto.
The five-time French champion, former world number 5 and now 22ndesIndeed, they brilliantly qualified for the final at dawn on Saturday by scoring their fourth success in two sets in four days. It took them just 39 minutes to find their fourth Asian couple of the week, Chinese Guo Xin Wa and Chen Fang Hui, 17.es (21-14, 21-11), winners in 2024 of a Super 500, in Thailand in May, and two Super 300s, in Macau in September and in South Korea last week. Despite the latter’s surge at the start of the second round (4-7), the Italians quickly regained control of the match by inflicting an 8-0 (12-7) on them. After that, they never released their grip again.
Puavaranukroh, an old acquaintance
Thom Gicquel and Delphine Delrue, who had not played in a World Tour final since their defeat at the China Open (Super 1000) in September 2023, will try to win their third title on Sunday, after the Orléans Masters (Super 100) in 2019 and, therefore the Swiss Open in 2021. For this, they will have to get rid of a Thai couple formed since the Paris Olympics and whose modest ranking (201e) does not in any way reflect the value.
Dechapol Puavaranukroh, 2021 world champion and former world number 1 with Sapsiree Taerattanachai, whom the French internationals have beaten “only” twice in six matches, is now associated with Supissara Paewsampran. In Saturday’s semi-final, the “Thai” duo fought for 1h04′ to overcome Malaysians Goh Soon Huat and Lai Shevon Jemie, 10th.es and no. 3 suits (18-21, 22-20, 21-14).
And as, given the time difference with the Land of the Rising Sun, you have to get up early – or go to bed late -, here, to follow the tribulations of Thom Gicquel and Delphine Delrue among the Japanese, the final of this mixed will begin at 3 p.m. French next night.
