The 8th all-French round of 16 between Alexis Lebrun and Thibault Poret turned in favor of the former on Thursday in Macao (3-11, 16-14, 13-11, 11-4, 11-7), winner 4-1 despite a strong start from the less experienced of the two men. Qualified for the first time for the quarter-finals of the Individual World Cup, the 14th world will face Calderano or Togami for a spot in the last four.
The adventure continues in Macao for Alexis Lebrun (22 years old), qualified for the first time in his life for the quarter-finals of the Individual World Cup. With an all-French round of 16 (Félix Lebrun, the third Frenchman still in the running, will face world number 1 Wang Chuqin on Friday), the French were certain before Thursday and this match between the Lebrun brothers and Thibault Poret, slightly younger than the Montpellier player, to have at least one representative in the quarter-finals. The question was which one.
Ultimately, the hierarchy was respected and it is the 14th world who continues his journey after putting an end to the dream of his compatriot. The two-time defending champion of the European Top 16 won in five sets (3-11, 16-14, 13-11, 11-4, 11-7) against the Norman who had caused a sensation the day before by defeating German Benedikt Duda, ranked 12th and… a nemesis of this Alexis Lebrun whom he faced on Thursday in this round of 16.
Poret may have regrets
However, if Poret, although very aggressive and willing to take all risks to achieve a new feat, showed (sometimes with incredible resistance) in the last four rounds against the bronze medalist in the team events of the 2024 Paris Games, practically unbeatable when fully in his game, the triple French champion, who had never won a match in the competition before Monday, had a very complicated, to say the least catastrophic or nightmarish, start to the match.
Completely unfazed, the 28th world, who may regret not having seized his chance in the 2nd and 3rd sets, indeed made the first set a nightmare for a Lebrun who was not yet in the game and was swept away upon arrival in this first set (11-3). The future opponent of Brazilian Calderano or Japanese Togami – ticket to the semi-finals at stake – immediately reacted and escaped the clutches of the French revelation of this individual World Cup.
Nevertheless, it may not always be the case in the future given the promises shown since the beginning of the week by the Norman.
