Alex Lanier claims historic Denmark Open victory

Alex Lanier became the first French player to win the Denmark Open on Sunday, October 18, 2026, defeating world number two Anders Antonsen in a three-set final in Odense. The 21-year-old French player secured a 21-15, 13-21, 21-13 victory against the home favorite, adding a second BWF World Tour Super 750 title of the season to his resume following his triumph at the Singapore Open on May 31, 2026. The world champion, who is ranked eighth in the world and hails from Caen in Normandy, also noted that he was content to win against him but also disappointed that he doesn’t recover this world number one ranking, adding that now it’s a match, you have to play it and I didn’t want to let this chance pass me by. Antonsen had previously eliminated Christo Popov in the semi-finals to prevent an all-French title clash.

Odense Final Tests French World Champion Against Home Favorite

The final at the Denmark Open proved a physical and tactical test for both competitors. Lanier opened the match by dictating the pace and capitalizing on unforced errors from Antonsen to take the first game 21-15, after initially carving out an early 7-4 lead. The Danish player responded in the second set, using aggressive play and the backing of the Odense crowd to level the match with a 21-13 scoreline. In the decisive third set, Lanier quickly established an 8-3 lead and maintained his advantage through a mix of lobs and precise attacking shots to close out the final 21-13, expanding his lead to 15-6 along the way. The victory marks Lanier’s fifth win in six career meetings against Antonsen.

Path Through the Draw to the Super 750 Crown

Lanier’s run to the title in Denmark included victories over multiple top-ten opponents. Before facing Antonsen in the final, the French player eliminated sixth-ranked Chou Tien Chen of Taiwan and ninth-ranked Canadian Victor Lai. Speaking about his performance across the tournament, Lanier noted that he focused on a less physical, more tactical approach that allowed him to dictate play against familiar rivals, stating, I am rather proud of the way I played this final but also the way I played this whole tournament. I played a game that was a little less physical, more tactical and smarter: I felt I was dictating the game a bit more.

Transition to the Internationaux de France in Paris

Following his success in Odense, Lanier turns his attention immediately to the Internationaux de France Super 750 tournament, scheduled from Tuesday, October 20 to Sunday, October 25, 2026, at the Arena Grand Paris in Tremblay-en-France. He is set to open his campaign against Hong Kong’s Jason Gunawan, ranked 22nd in the world. No French players are entered in the women’s singles draw.

French Contenders Across Doubles Draws

Four additional French pairs will compete in the doubles categories. The Popov brothers will contest the men’s doubles, while Margot Lambert and Camille Pognante represent France in the women’s doubles. In the mixed doubles, world champions Thom Gicquel and Delphine Delrue feature in the lineup, with a potential semi-final meeting looming against fellow compatriots Julien Maio and Léa Palermo.