Playing for My Fans & Family | [Your Name/Team]

When his opponents return to their hotel after leaving the Palais des Sports, Alex Lanier will head to Ranville. THE world number 7 will compete in the French badminton championships at home, from February 6 to 8, 2026, in Caen. The former Dives-sur-Mer club player will be the local for the stage. “I’m going to be at home, in my bed, in my house, peaceful,” he smiles. I want to have a good time with my family. That’s also what I’m looking for. »

Accustomed to the biggest international tournaments, the reigning French champion does not want to [se] put pressure on” when defending his crown. But the 20-year-old Norman, crowned European champion on April 13, 2025, will be eagerly awaited. He answered, by videoconference, questions from the press, this Wednesday, December 10, 2025, opening day from single ticketing.

Alex, how do you approach the prospect of these French championships at home?

It’s going to be a moment of sharing. It’s great to play in front of all these people that I love and to be able to give back to them a little bit of everything they’ve given me from the start.

Are you going to attach particular importance to this meeting?

I have not planned at all, for the moment, in the calendar and in these French championships. It will be important for me to perform and share this moment. Afterwards, I don’t feel that this is a tournament where I will have to perform more than usual. For all the people who watch me and who I played with at Dives, it’s important that I’m here. I don’t know if it’s necessarily important that I perform, although it will suit them if I perform. At first, they will be happy to see me and happy to see me play.

Given the very high level of French badminton, do these French championships have an even greater sporting significance? It’s extremely difficult to win…

It becomes more and more difficult when we see the French level in men’s singles. It only increases. Obviously, I’m here to have as much fun as possible. Sportingly, there is an advantage: being able to play good matches and compete at the top world level while we stay in France. It’s important for me and for everyone, to see the evolution of bad French. We will all take this opportunity to improve. It is also a sporting issue. The level will perhaps be better than ever in the French championships.

“Bad becomes more professional”

Is this emulation one of the reasons why the level of French badminton is so high?

There are different factors. Obviously, the fact that there is competition is one of the important factors. The federation has also developed in terms of structure and coaching. There are more coaches, there is a data specialist, there is a physical trainer, more physiotherapists… The bad, in general, is also becoming more professional. When everything is more professional around the athlete and we add athletes with potential, who push themselves, it allows everyone to raise their level.

What inspires you about the Palais des Sports that you will discover in competition?

I don’t know the Palace at all. I’ve seen pictures and it looks like a nice cocoon. It’s going to be really nice. I saw that there had been events in it. It looked great. I have confidence in the French public to set the mood. I can’t wait to see what this Palace can do. It would make me even more happy to see a lot of people coming together for the French championships.

Given your performances, can you be a source of inspiration for the young badistas who will be present? Is this something that drives you?

I play for myself initially, but also for the people I love and who follow me. There are so many times when we are a source of inspiration despite ourselves. It’s not something that bothers me, nor is it something I seek out. I want to have a good time, play and do what I love. I’m not looking for recognition or to be an inspiration. I just want to do the thing I love with the people I love. Now is the right time to do it.

“It’s a very good year”

On the subject of data, the French federation estimates that you are six months ahead of Viktor Axelsen, world champion and Olympic champion. What does this inspire you? Is there any form of satisfaction?

Yes, there is perhaps a form of satisfaction. Stats are important. Now, in history, a lot of players broke through later, broke through earlier… It’s more important for the staff to have all this data, these passing points to be able to make comparisons. Personally, I don’t feel like it impacts me that much. This will impact me in the sense that the staff will do a better job and will be more alert. This kind of little success, little pride always does the ego good. I take it with a smile.

You were eliminated in the round of 16 at the World Championships in Paris. Have you managed to shake off the disappointment?

I think so. We – because I joined my coach – were surprised by the fact that I managed to perform after the Worlds. I didn’t make it to the final, but I made two semis and a quarter. It was also a good performance. I’m quite happy with my level of play towards the end, even if there was a little fatigue. I’m happy to have managed to release the frustration, but also to have managed to progress. It was a good period for us. Even if there was no title, there was no final, I think my level of play was better. We don’t notice the quarter-finals and semi-finals much, but consistency counts.

What is your assessment of the year 2025?

It’s a very good year. We tend to notice the titles first and foremost, or even the finals. There are years when we earn a little less. But I feel like I was a lot more consistent than last year, having played more semis. I made a final in Japan, too. I settled in the top 10 [mondial]. This is the consistency we were looking for. There are times when you are just a little short of being the winner… There is a bit of disappointment in the sense that I would have liked to have had more titles. We work a lot to try to grab what we are missing. The key word this year remains consistency. I lost less in the first rounds. And I improved my game.

Where are you currently in terms of timeline?

It’s anything but rest (smile). We train hard. We’ve been training for a month, a month and a half. I took this time to do fewer tournaments, to concentrate on myself, to progress in many different aspects: physically, mentally. I will leave on December 20 to play the King Cup in China on December 27. Then, I will continue in January with Malaysia and India. Right now, we’re taking a lot of time to be as strong as possible. I have never felt so good. It’s a good time for me.

What will be the priorities for the year 2026?

We set the All England and the world championships as objectives. This year, I did a lot of semis. I would still like it to stop and turn them into titles. I want to go for more titles, get into the top 5 and be solid there. Or even more.

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