French badminton player Alex Lanier secured his place in the final of the 2026 Danish Open Super 750 tournament by defeating Canada’s Victor Lai, while compatriot Christo Popov exited in the semifinals after a hard-fought loss to local favorite Anders Antonsen.
Alex Lanier Overcomes Victor Lai to Reach the Final
Alex Lanier navigated a tough test against fellow rising star Victor Lai to book his spot in the championship match. The opening set proved decisive as the champion fended off a late surge from the Canadian before closing it out. Once ahead, Lanier controlled the pace with a polished performance, sealing the match 21-19, 21-10.
The encounter served as a rematch of their clash at the world semifinal stage two months prior, where Lai also pushed the French player before Lanier claimed the victory. With the semifinal hurdle cleared, Lanier advances to face the tournament’s local favorite for the title.
Christo Popov Falls Short Against Anders Antonsen
Christo Popov missed out on an all-French final after dropping a three-set battle against Denmark’s Anders Antonsen. The French player seized control early by rattling off 11 points to dominate the first game. However, Antonsen mounted a fierce comeback backed by the home crowd.
Denmark Open 2026 — Day 1 | MS – R32🇫🇷 [7] Alex LANIER def. 🇨🇳 HU Zhe An2-0 (21-18, 21-13) | ⏱️ 49 mins#DenmarkOpen2026 #Badminton #MS #Odense2026
The Danish star turned the momentum completely, grinding down his opponent over the final two games to win 9-21, 21-16, 21-13. The defeat ends Popov’s run just short of the trophy match.
Upcoming French Open and Title Prospects
The Danish Open serves as a crucial stop heading into the final stretch of the badminton season, immediately preceding the upcoming Internationaux de France next week. While Popov bows out in the final four, French hopes for a singles title rest firmly on Lanier, who enters the final match carrying world champion status.
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