For the second time in their career, the French duo Delphine Delrue and Thom Gicquel are preparing to compete in a Super 500 tournament final in mixed doubles. This Saturday, during the semi-finals of the Kumamoto Masters in Japan, the European champions achieved a feat by eliminating the Chinese pair Wa Guo Gui and Fang Hui Chen (21-14, 21-11). This resounding victory marks a rare moment in the history of French badminton.
Thom Gicquel and @dedeyyyyy in patterns!
The French (n°22) did not tremble in the semi-final of the #KumamotoMasters in Japan. Victory 21/14 21/11 against CHEN/GUO 🇨🇳 (n°17).
Tomorrow, they will seek the title against Dechapol PUAVARANUKROH/Supissara PAEWSAMPRAN 🇹🇭 pic.twitter.com/OSqzoMgBVD
— FFBaD (@FFBaD) November 16, 2024
A top performance against a formidable pair
It is unusual for a French pair to win against Chinese opponents, who are often dominant on the international scene. However, Delphine Delrue and Thom Gicquel, ranked 22nd in the world, outperformed the duo Gui/Chen, 17th in the world rankings, with impressive mastery. The French delivered an impeccable match, controlling each phase of the game to win both sets without leaving any room for doubt (21-14, 21-11).
“We played very well, it was a match accomplished from A to Z,” rejoiced Delphine Delrue after the match. Unlike their quarter-final, marked by a few slumps, the French maintained a constant level of play throughout the match.
A profitable tactic and perfect execution
The success of the French is based on a perfectly executed strategy. “We wanted to control their speed, make them play low as much as possible and break the net to have the attack,” explained Delrue. Thanks to this approach, they were able to neutralize the forces of their adversaries and impose their rhythm.
The victory sends the duo to the final of a Super 500 tournament for the second time in their career, following their first final in 2022 at the Indonesia Masters. On this occasion, they lost to the Chinese Zheng Siwei and Huang Yaqiong (13-21, 14-21). This time, Delrue and Gicquel hope to take a step forward and win a prestigious title.
A high-tension final against a Thai pair
In the final, the French will face the Thais Dechapol Puavaranukroh and Supissara Paewsampran. Although ranked 201st in the world, this pair is far from trivial since they recently eliminated the 10th in the world, proving that they are in great shape. This match therefore promises to be intense and decisive for Delphine Delrue and Thom Gicquel, who aspire to write a new page in the history of French badminton.
A historic opportunity for French badminton
By reaching this final, Delrue and Gicquel once again demonstrate their progression and their ability to compete with the world elite. A victory during this Super 500 would not only be a personal consecration for the two athletes, but also a major achievement for French badminton, often in search of recognition on the international scene.
See you this Sunday to find out if Delphine Delrue and Thom Gicquel will manage to transform this opportunity into historic success. Regardless, their journey inspires and shows that France has its place among the great badminton nations.
