Christo Popov qualified this Saturday, December 20 for the final of the BWF World Tour Finals in Hangzhou. At 23, the Frenchman became the first Habs to reach the final of this major world badminton tournament in which he was participating for the first time.
This Saturday, December 20, Christo Popov made the history of French badminton in Hangzhou (China). The 23-year-old qualified for the final of the BWF World Tour Finals, becoming the first Frenchman to reach this stage in this competition equivalent to the Masters in tennis.
In the semi-final, the 8th player in the world won against the Japanese Kodai Naraoka, 2023 world vice-champion, in two sets (21-19, 21-8). Hanging in the first set, Popov then clearly took the upper hand in the second set to validate his qualification. “It was a good match, a great semi-final,” he rejoiced, before adding: “I’m happy to have won the first set […] A lot of things depended on that. In the second set, I had a little more confidence and a better attack. Physically, he was starting to get a little more exhausted and I was able to tell the difference,” relays the Team. For his first participation in this tournament reserved for the eight best players of the season, the Frenchman demonstrated great mastery.
Before this semi-final, the youngest of the Popov brothers had finished at the top of his group, with three victories in three matches against the Dane Anders Antonsen, the Thai Kunlavut Vitidsarn and the Indonesian Jonathan Christie. A series which opened the doors to the last four, then the final. He has therefore achieved a flawless performance in China for the moment, after winning all his group matches and this historic semi-final.
After the match, he stressed: “I am very happy because it is my first two sets of the competition” before insisting that he does not want to stop there: “Now we have a little rest time to prepare for tomorrow’s final. There are lots of positive things. »
A first for a Frenchman in this tournament
In an exchange with the TeamChristo Popov provided more information on his physical and mental preparation: “When I woke up this morning, I felt very tired. […] I think the first set was very important, it was very long. Winning it gave me a little more confidence. »
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The 23-year-old recalls that “It’s a good thing to have been able to finish in two sets today. It’s better for me to have played during the day rather than in the evening, it gives me a little more time to recover. Either way, I’ll be ready for tomorrow. And I’m going to watch the other semi-final tonight (between Shi Yu Qi and Kunlavut Vitidsarn, Editor’s note). »
This Sunday, December 21, Christo Popov will compete for the title against the Thai Kunlavut Vitidsarn, current world number 2 whom he has already beaten in the group stage, or against the Chinese Shi Yuqi, world champion and world number 1.
He added: “Just participating was something new for me, so every day is an experience. I am very happy to have played well. I am also very happy to see that my leg is doing well, that I am in good shape. »
Whatever the outcome of the final, the Frenchman has already written his name in the history of the World Tour Finals, where no French player had reached the final until now.
