In the wake of the last point of the match, they broke anti-Covid-19 protocol, hugged each other over the net and traded their shirts like footballers. Brice Leverdez and Tien Chen Chou put the same warmth in their salute as in the duel they had just engaged in at the Pierre-de-Coubertin stadium, and it was on a very high level poster that the Frenchman left the Badminton French Open (IFB) this Thursday evening.
The nine-time national champion (37th world) was eliminated in the round of 16 by the Taiwanese (16-21, 21-17, 19-21), fourth in the world rankings and winner of the Paris tournament in 2014, but he gave everything to take it away. The victory even seemed to extend its arms to him in the decisive round, after two balanced sets where each one will have shown their talents in turn.
His last meeting at the IFBs?
Leverdez (35) fell behind (he was led 11-7), then he took control of the game to distance himself (17-13), but Chou had the last word, chaining four points to conclude at the net. “There is sadness, I gave everything, he confided leaving the court. I didn’t manage to keep my nerves strong enough, hers were a little stronger than mine. But I almost beat the world number 4. “
“I have rarely taken so much pleasure in playing in Paris”
The Frenchman will have made speak his right arm, which swung many winning smashes, as much as his left arm, to celebrate them in front of the public. It was necessary to mark the occasion of what could have been his last meeting with the IFB, at 35 years old. “I have rarely taken so much pleasure in playing in Paris”, he confided anyway. So why not once again in 2022.
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