french Powerhouses Dominate Hylo Open: French Women’s Doubles Clinch Historic Title, Mixed Doubles Secures Silver!
Saarbrücken, Germany – The Hylo Open 2025 has been a stunning showcase of badminton prowess, and French athletes have once again etched their names in the history books. in a thrilling display of skill and determination, Margot LAMBERT and Camille POGNANTE have captured their first-ever HSBC BWF World tour title, a monumental achievement in the women’s doubles category. Meanwhile, the dynamic duo of Thom GICQUEL and Delphine DELRUE fought valiantly to secure a silver medal in the mixed doubles, proving France’s growing dominance on the international stage.
LAMBERT & POGNANTE: A New Reign in Women’s Doubles
The French pair, seeded 33rd, embarked on a remarkable journey through the tournament, showcasing grit and tactical brilliance. Their path to glory saw them systematically dismantle formidable opponents. They first ousted the LIMA sisters from Brazil (n°55), followed by a decisive victory over the STOEVA sisters of Bulgaria (n°13).
In the semi-finals, LAMBERT and POGNANTE seized control against the Taipei duo CHANG/YANG (n°19). This momentum carried them into the final, where they faced another formidable Taipei pair, HSU Yin-Hui/LIN Jhih Yun (n°18). Undeterred, the French women delivered a masterclass, clinching the title with a commanding 21/16, 21/10 victory. This Super 500 triumph is not just a personal milestone but a significant indicator of the bright future ahead for French badminton. As they prepare to head to Kumamoto for the Masters Japan from November 11-16, the badminton world will be watching to see if they can continue this winning streak.
GICQUEL & DELRUE: A Hard-Fought Silver in Mixed Doubles
In the mixed doubles, the French team of Thom GICQUEL and Delphine DELRUE (n°6) also reached the final, demonstrating their consistent high-level performance.However,they narrowly missed out on the Hylo Open title,ultimately settling for a well-deserved silver medal. Their opponents in the final were the in-form Danish duo, Mathias CHRISTIANSEN and alexandra BØJE (n°31), who proved too strong on the day, winning 21/23, 15/21.
The journey for GICQUEL and DELRUE was a testament to their resilience, and their silver medal signifies their status as top contenders in the mixed doubles circuit. Another French pair, Julien MAIO and Léa PALERMO (n°41), also competed in this category but saw their run end in the quarter-finals, falling to the Spanish pair GARCIA/RODRIGUEZ (n°49) with a score of 21/23, 14/21.
Alex LANIER: A Promising Semi-Final Run in men’s Singles
The men’s singles saw a strong performance from Alex LANIER (n°8), who reached the semi-finals. Lanier engaged in some nail-biting encounters throughout the tournament, including three-set thrillers in both the round of 16 against GEMKE and the quarterfinals against SEN. His extraordinary run was ultimately halted by the formidable Jonatan CHRISTIE (n°5) from Indonesia in the semi-finals, with a final score of 21/18, 19/21, 9/21. lanier’s bronze medal is a significant achievement and highlights his potential to challenge the very best in the sport.
Other French contenders in the men’s singles included Toma Junior POPOV (n°13), who was stopped in the round of 16, while Arnaud MERKLE (n°37) and Christo POPOV (n°7) were unable to advance past the round of 16.
Other Notable Performances and Future Outlook
In the men’s doubles, the POPOV/POPOV (n°19) pairing’s journey concluded in the round of 16, where they were defeated by the Indonesian duo GUTAMA/ISFAHANI.The duos ADAM/ROSSI (n°36), CATTOEN/RENOIR (n°43), and MAIO/VILLEGER (n°75) also faced early exits in the round of 16.
In the women’s singles, anna TATRANOVA (n°93), the sole French representative, successfully navigated the qualifying rounds but was eliminated in the round of 16 by HSU from Taipei.
The hylo Open 2025 has undoubtedly been a landmark event for French badminton,showcasing the depth of talent and the unwavering spirit of
