Thursday, at the China Masters (Super 750), the last French hopes were extinguished in the round of 16. Alex Lanier, Delphine Delrue and Thom Gicquel, as well as the Popov brothers were all eliminated, marking a premature end for the French representatives in this competition.
Tough day… There are no more French people competing in the #ChinaMasters 😔
➡️ Alex Lanier🆚 OF Ka Long Angus 🇭🇰 : 15/21 21/18 13/21
➡️ Thom Gicquel/@dedeyyyyy 🆚 CHEN/TOH 🇲🇾 : 21/14 21/23 8/21
➡️ @Popov_Christo/@Thomas_Jr_Popov 🆚 ASTRUP/RASMUSSEN 🇩🇰 : 16/21 13/21 pic.twitter.com/62CdJPdQhn— FFBaD (@FFBaD) November 21, 2024
Alex Lanier falls after fierce duel
In singles, Alex Lanier, current world No. 16 and leader of the French delegation, lost to Hong Kong’s Ng Ka Long Angus (world No. 19). After a great victory in the first round against Chou Tien Chen, Lanier could hope to go further in the tournament. But despite a competitive match, he lost in three sets (21-15, 18-21, 21-13).
Lanier showed great streaks in the first two sets, including winning the second set with intensity. However, the third set was fatal to him, marked by technical errors and rough judgments which offered opportunities to his opponent. This defeat puts an end to his career, preventing him from meeting Viktor Axelsen, the world number 1, in the quarter-finals.
Delrue and Gicquel: victory narrowly escapes them
The mixed duo Delphine Delrue and Thom Gicquel, European champions and recent finalists at the Kumamoto Masters, also saw their adventure come to an end. Opposed to the Malaysian tandem Chen Tang Jie/Toh Ee Wei, world n°10, the French lost in three sets (14-21, 23-21, 21-8).
After a one-sided first set in favor of the Malaysians, Delrue and Gicquel were able to come back to the score in a breathtaking second set. At 21-21, they had the opportunity to close, but lacked precision in the decisive points. This setback leaves a bitter taste for the French, who hoped for better after their recent performances.
Frustrating first round for @Popov_Christo and the Lambert/Pognante women’s doubles #ChinaMasters 😕
The French lost very narrowly.Continuation of the 1st round tomorrow with:
➡️ Toma Junior Popov
➡️ Alex Lanier
➡️ Gicquel/Delrue
➡️ Popov/Popov💻 https://t.co/z1HNz3vZNC pic.twitter.com/Uc74fG1Qqo
— FFBaD (@FFBaD) November 19, 2024
The Popov brothers dominated by the Danes
In the men’s doubles, Toma Junior and Christo Popov failed to defy the odds against the formidable Danes Kim Astrup and Anders Rasmussen, world No. 3. The two brothers, beaten for the ninth time in as many confrontations against this duo, suffered a clear defeat (21-16, 21-13).
Despite their combativeness, the Popovs did not find the solution against opponents who mastered their game. This setback puts an end to their international season.
An end of the season with no immediate perspective
With these eliminations, the 2024 French season on the BWF circuit comes to an end. The Blues do not have any other international competitions planned before 2025, which gives them time to prepare and adjust their strategy for future events.
Despite these setbacks, the recent performances of French players, notably those of Delrue and Gicquel or Alex Lanier, demonstrate potential to be developed. The coming months will be decisive in refining their preparation and returning stronger on the international scene.
