Christo Popov claims French Open and world number one ranking

Christo Popov claims French Open title and historic world number one ranking in Paris

French badminton player Christo Popov secured the Internationaux de France title on Sunday, October 25, 2026, defeating Indonesia’s Mohammad Zaki Ubaidillah in a three-set match (21-11, 14-21, 21-13). The victory at the Arena Porte de la Chapelle elevates the 24-year-old from his previous position as world number three to the top of the Badminton World Federation rankings, marking the first time a French singles player has achieved the world number one ranking.

The triumph also breaks a lengthy domestic drought in the tournament. Popov became the first French competitor to win the event since Henri Pellizza in 1946. The achievement arrives a year after Popov reached the final of the same Super 750 tournament, where he fell in straight sets to Denmark’s Anders Antonsen.

How Popov won a three-set marathon against Ubaidillah

Playing before a home crowd, Popov opened the final strongly by establishing an early 8-2 lead in the first game. Despite a brief response from his teenage opponent, the French player closed out the opener comfortably at 21-11, as reported by. Ubaidillah, who had eliminated Popov’s compatriot Alex Lanier in a grueling three-set semifinal on Saturday, shifted the momentum in the second game. The young Indonesian strung together eight consecutive points to take control, eventually forcing a decider with a 21-12 scoreline.

In the final game, Popov rebounded despite visible physical treatment involving bandages. Cheated on by fatigue but spurred by the arena crowd, he regained his attacking rhythm to secure the deciding set 21-13. The victory avenged Lanier’s earlier exit and fulfilled a stated preseason objective for the French player.

Staging a milestone for French badminton development

Popov’s ascent to the summit of the BWF rankings represents a watershed moment for the sport in France. French singles badminton now boasts the world’s top-ranked male player. The milestone complements a broader resurgence for the nation’s elite players, including international campaigns by the Popov brothers, Alex Lanier, and the mixed doubles pairing of Thom Gicquel and Delphine Delrue.

The result ensures that Popov will surpass current rankings leader Kunlavut Vitidsarn of Thailand when the global governing body publishes its updated standings. Having previously captured the World Tour Finals the previous year—another first for French badminton—Popov cements his status at the elite level of the international circuit.