Two weeks ago, the Popov siblings were guilty of a scary run at the Hylo Open (Super 300). Indeed, Christo and Toma Junior both reached the final, to offer a Franco-French poster to the FFL, what it hates most in the world. In this fratricidal duel, it was Christo who emerged victorious, and who therefore had the most to be forgiven. Nope.
Christo Popov annoys us ++
Aligned with the Kumamoto Masters (Super 500) in Japan, Christo Popov faced Chou Tien Chen in the round of 16. And from the first set, the Frenchman pulled out all the stops against the Taiwanese. A 21-10 setback which does not displease us. But facing the 8th player in the world, the No. 25 is not shy, and allows himself to get back to one set everywhere (21-14).
Then comes that damn third set. Chou Tien Chen is very inclined to enforce the logic of the world ranking, and harasses Christo Popov from the start. The Taiwanese leads 11-4, then 18-12, and finds himself three points away from victory. But the worst happens. The Frenchman not only won six points in a row to join him in the score (18-18), but also the last nine to win the game (21-18).
Kumamoto Masters Japan 2024
MS – R16
10 21 21 🇫🇷Christo POPOV🥇21 14 18 CHOU Tien Chen
🕚 in 62 minutes
— BWFScore (@BWFScore) November 14, 2024
And for those who would give Popov the benefit of the doubt, stop that right now, his act was indeed voluntary. A mentality that is anything but FFL-compatible.
“I managed to keep my mentality and come back several times in the match, and above all be solid during money time” Christo Popov
In the next round, Christo Popov faces Viktor Axelsen, incidentally the double Danish Olympic champion and former world number 1. Hoping that this time the step will be high enough for the Frenchman.
