From Wednesday, Christo Popov enters a new dimension of his career. At the age of 23, the Frenchman participated for the first time in singles at the World Tour Finals, the prestigious tournament which brings together the eight best badminton players of the year. A consecration for the Fosséen, but above all an additional step in a rise as rapid as it is impressive.
#BWFWorldTourFinals | It starts tomorrow ⏳
Meet at 10 a.m. to follow the first meetings of @Popov_Christo and the mixed Thom Gicquel/@dedeyyyyy 🔥
💻 To follow live on https://t.co/8KY67Pl1Dt
🔗 Program and results: https://t.co/1o8Jbu5XUs
*French times pic.twitter.com/rXWS4GhpbA— FFBaD (@FFBaD) December 16, 2025
In Hangzhou, nearly 200 kilometers from Shanghai, Popov will not be alone. At his side, he finds his father Toma, attentive coach and pillar of his daily life in Fos-sur-Mer, as well as his brother Toma Junior, who accompanies him until the warm-up. A reassuring family cocoon in a unique environment: a room committed to the Chinese cause, a very high-level tournament, and an unusual formula with group matches, non-existent on the rest of the circuit.
A tournament apart, a place among the elite
The World Tour Finals represent the equivalent of the ATP Finals in tennis: an annual meeting of the world’s elite. Christo Popov had already tasted it in 2021, in doubles with his brother, in a context still marked by the Covid-19 pandemic and the absence of Chinese players. This time, nothing is missing. All the best are there, and Popov too.
Triple French singles champion, the Frenchman rose to fifth place in the qualifying ranking for the Finals, a position very close to his current world rank (8th). A presence that seemed unimaginable a few months earlier.
From discreet outsider to revelation of the season
Who would have bet on Christo Popov a year ago? Certainly not him. At the start of the season, he played in the shadow of his brother and young prodigy Alex Lanier. Worse still, in March, a series of failed tournaments threatened to knock him out of the world’s top 32, synonymous with exclusion from major competitions.
“The Finals were not a goal at the start of the season, because I was not at all on that trajectory”he recognizes today. The turning point came at the Swiss Open, where he reached the final. From then on, everything came together: five victories against members of the world’s top 5, five semi-finals in major tournaments, and a Super 750 final at the French Open.
If the progress seems dazzling, it is in reality the result of in-depth work.
A profound transformation
“Change came sooner than we saw”explains his father and coach Toma Popov. “During the Olympic qualification period, we changed a lot of things: our game, our lifestyle, our training. In badminton, evolving takes time. For Christo, the process lasted six months. »
Technically already very solid thanks to his left-handed play, Popov has above all taken a step forward physically and mentally. Now capable of playing high-intensity three-set matches without weakening, he has also learned to better manage his emotions.
“Before, mentally, things could go in all directions against players with an atypical style. Today, I manage my matches and my frustration better”he confides.
Feed on the challenge, savor the moment
At the World Tour Finals, Popov has no intention of holding back. Quite the contrary. He is already projecting himself into the electric atmosphere of a room largely favorable to Chinese players and is looking forward to a series of shocks against the world elite.
In his group, he will face the Dane Anders Antonsen (3rd in the world), the Thai Kunlavut Vitidsarn (2nd) and the Indonesian Jonatan Christie (5th). A tough, but exhilarating program.
“I’m so excited to try this. It’s going to be some crazy matches against top 10 players. I think I’ll enjoy it”he smiles.
An ambition turned towards the future
If he aims “obviously to get out of the group and make a podium”Christo Popov especially sees further. For him, these Finals are also a preparation step towards even greater goals.
“I consider this competition as a basis for next season, to go for something extra: a title in a big tournament, the European or World Championships. A medal, in any case. »
An ambition worthy of a player now established among the best. And who, in Hangzhou, does not intend to be satisfied with being a simple guest.
