Alex Lanier reflects on his performance at the European Championships in Saarbrücken

Alex Lanier, 41st player in the world, looks back on the European Championships he played in Saarbrücken (Germany) last week. The 19-year-old Divais eliminated Cristo Popov and the German Fabian Roth before being eliminated in the quarter-final by the Finn Joakim Oldorff on Friday April 12.

Alex, what assessment do you draw from your European Championships?

Overall, the overall level was very good, that’s positive. Too bad there was a problem at the end… I have years to go for a medal but I have to understand now how it happened and why.

How to explain this failed quarter-final?

Physically, I was already a little damaged. But I was in decent shape. The main factor is the mind. I was trembling, afraid of going for a medal. I had bad feelings, not very good reaction times and the impression of being in the dark, of not understanding anything about the match. I knew my tactics but on the pitch, it was like I was playing with my eyes closed. It was terrible.

“When I have to get a medal, when I am the favorite, I have to manage better”

Is being present in the key moments of a championship still your area of ​​progress?

Yes. It was perhaps less my concern than the physical before but today, it is the case. Maybe I need to focus my work more on mental preparation, on the things to do when I arrive in these situations where I have to perform. Sometimes I succeed, especially during the first rounds, which are very stressful times. But when it comes to medals, and I’m the favorite, I have to manage things better. I also have to accept when my body is less efficient, so as not to lose control. To do this, you have to find different solutions in your game.

READ ALSO. Badminton. Alex Lanier: “I transformed myself physically”

Your victory in the round of 16 against Christo Popov, then French No. 1, left a lasting impression. His brother Toma Junior will go to the Games. Have you shown that you have the level to go there too?

Yes, I think I did. But to go to the Games, you have to be consistent. For the moment, on a one shot, I showed a very good level. I’ve played top 15-20s several times now. I understood how you had to play, that you had to be solid. Tactically, I managed to maintain rigor throughout the game, which made the difference compared to other times. For the future, it’s obviously very good but my level must increase further.

2024-04-16 14:59:26
#playing #eyes #closed