French table tennis players secured multiple medals at the European Championships in Ljubljana, Slovenia, as brothers Alexis and Félix Lebrun advanced to the men’s doubles semifinals and Alexis teamed up with Charlotte Lutz to reach the mixed doubles final, according to reports from Ouest-France and Equipe-France.fr.
The Lebrun Brothers Overcome a Five-Set Test in Men’s Doubles
Alexis and Félix Lebrun advanced to the men’s doubles semifinals on Thursday, Oct. 15, 2026, defeating Finland’s Benedek Olah and Alex Naumi in five sets (4-11, 11-6, 11-6, 10-12, 11-8), as reported by Equipe-France.fr. The reigning champions struggled early against the Finnish pair’s serves and deep returns before stabilizing their defense in the middle sets. After dropping the fourth set under mounting pressure, the French duo closed out the decider to guarantee themselves a European medal.
Les frères Lebrun filent en demies de l'ETTU European Championship. Suivez le direct > https://t.co/qDzzXZ0C1Z pic.twitter.com/mw3Nx8MuPL
Reflecting on the tense encounter, Félix Lebrun told Equipe-France.fr that the match involved significant strain and admitted that at two sets all, panic set in as the pair felt the weight of the moment. Alexis Lebrun emphasized the mental resilience required to break the Finnish momentum, noting that they had to dig deep into their reserves and rely on pure grit to secure the win.
An All-French Semifinal Clash Awaits in Ljubljana
France is guaranteed to place at least one duo in the men’s doubles final following a second semifinal qualification on Thursday. Moments after the Lebrun brothers finished their match, compatriots Esteban Dorr and Florian Bourrassaud defeated Serbia’s Zsolt Peto and Uros Ninkovic in straight sets (12-10, 11-7, 11-8), according to Equipe-France.fr. The victory marks a significant progression for Dorr and Bourrassaud, who exited in the round of 16 at the previous continental championships two years prior.
Esteban Dorr expressed excitement about the upcoming matchup against their teammates, describing a semifinal against close friends at the European Championships as an extraordinary scenario. While the Lebrun brothers enter the next round as defending champions and tournament favorites, Dorr and Bourrassaud have demonstrated the tactical efficiency needed to challenge them.
Mixed Doubles Success Alongside Difficulties in Women’s Events
Beyond the men’s tournament, Alexis Lebrun found further success by pairing with Charlotte Lutz to reach the mixed doubles final, overcoming Sweden’s Kristian Karlsson and Christina Källberg in a demanding five-set encounter (6-11, according to Equipe-France.fr coverage). However, the Thursday schedule brought setbacks for the French women’s delegation. Prithika Pavade and Charlotte Lutz were eliminated from the women’s doubles competition after a challenging outing.
As the tournament progresses in Ljubljana, attention shifts directly to the upcoming all-French men’s doubles semifinal between Alexis and Félix Lebrun and the pairing of Esteban Dorr and Florian Bourrassaud, where the winner will advance to fight for the European title.
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