Guillaume MARION, Media365: published on Wednesday, October 27, 2021 at 1:35 p.m.
Tuesday, during the 1st round of the IFBs, the Frenchman Thomas Rouxel struck a big blow in Paris by dominating the Thai Kantaphon Wangcharoen after a breathless match in three sets.
Thomas Rouxel ignited the public present in the spans of the Pierre-de-Coubertin Stadium. Indeed, while the French Badminton Open (IFB) kicked off this Tuesday in Paris, the Frenchman pulled out all the stops in the first round. Opposed to world number 18, the Thai Kantaphon Wangcharoen, the 30-year-old Rennais (ranked 39th) had to fight until the end to reach the 2nd round of the tournament after a match in three sets (21-15, 11- 21, 27-25) and disputed in 1h17. During this meeting, Rouxel went through a lot of emotions, he who was led 12-9 in the first set, before turning the situation around with a scathing 12-3 and thus take control. Behind, the reaction of the Thai did not drag to pick up a set everywhere. Finally, the Frenchman, who notably saved five match wheels, triumphed over Wangcharoen.
“In a match, I have the level of a top 20”
He now has an appointment Thursday with Hong Kong’s Cheuk Yiu Lee (No. 14), who released Dane Anders Antonsen (No. 3 worldwide) in straight sets. “I thought back to last week when I had a big chance and I lost 21-19 in the 3rd set (against Tommy Sugiarto at the Danish Open). I tried to breathe well, not to think too much about the score. Fortunately the public, my family, lots of friends and Maxime, my coach, were there. In tournaments like here, I am the lowest ranked on the court every time and I have to perform every time. There, it was played in the head and it shows that in a match, I have the level of a top 20. I have little adductor problems, I’ll see how I wake up tomorrow. Now there are the physiotherapists to do whatever it takes and Thursday, it’s off again. There, I’m going to savor already, ”said Rouxel, in remarks collected by Le Télégramme.
