The French player achieved what will perhaps remain as the point of the year in Incheon against the Chinese Liang Jingkun.
And Liang Jingkun himself let out a smile tinged with admiration. Like the majority of Chinese players, the current world number 3 nevertheless wants to be impassive around a table during a match but Simon Gauzy’s stroke of genius was well worth this mark of consideration. An exceptional point which will complete the collection of the Frenchman, accustomed to highlights with his ultra-spectacular style of play and his ability to bring back the most improbable balls.
Liang Jingkun, the former world number 1, paid the price in the quarter-finals of the WTT Champions in Incheon. While he had just come back from hell by saving three match points to equalize at two sets, the Chinese broke away 2-0 at the start of the decisive set. And he seemed well on his way to increasing his lead but Simon Gauzy brought back a first smash, then a second with a sublime cut backhand which destabilized his opponent, forcing him to take a simple putback.
The perfect moment for the Frenchman to emerge and place an explosive backhand attack, which left Liang petrified. Which made Alexis Lebrun, present in the room, say on his X account: “The most beautiful point I have seen live in my life”. A beautiful tribute, which unfortunately did not prevent the defeat of Simon Gauzy. But the video of his stroke of genius has not finished circulating on social networks.
