When asked when his last match in Calvados was, Alex Lanier no longer remembers. But the 2025 European champion, 7e world player, will soon play again at home, since he will defend his title at the French championships in Caen, from February 6 to 8, 2026. During a press conference organized this Wednesday, December 10, 2025, the 20-year-old Divais spoke at length about his long-awaited return to his homeland.
Alex Lanier, what do these French championships in Caen mean to you?
It’s nice that it’s really close to my house. Having my family, my friends, feeling that all the people who are usually behind me are there, being able to see them in real life, it will be a moment of sharing. It’s great to be able to play in these conditions, with all these people I love, and to give back to them a little bit of everything they gave me. It will be important for me to perform in front of them.
Does this mean that in 2026, you will tick the French championships on your calendar more than usual?
It’s difficult to say, in the sense that I haven’t yet planned for my calendar and these French championships. It will be important for me to perform and share this moment. But I also don’t feel that this is a tournament where I have to perform more than usual. For all the people who watch me, and with whom I played in Dives-sur-Mer, it is important that I am there. But I don’t know if it’s really important that I perform. Obviously, that would suit them but, at first, I think they will simply be happy to see me….
