At the Grand Smash in China, French table tennis player Félix Lebrun advanced to the men’s singles quarterfinals in under 19 minutes, as reported, securing a straight-game victory over Croatia’s Tomislav Pucar.
Fast Singles Win Over Tomislav Pucar
Félix Lebrun dispatched Tomislav Pucar in 18 minutes and 58 seconds, winning three straight games (11–9, 12–10, 10–5). While the scoreline suggests a routine victory for the tournament’s top seed, the opening two games tested the Frenchman’s composure. Pucar applied consistent pressure throughout the exchanges and earned a set point during a tense second game before Lebrun managed to pull away and close out the third game more comfortably.
The win sets up a quarterfinal clash for Lebrun against the winner of the match between Germany’s Patrick Franziska and sixth-seeded Brazilian Hugo Calderano.
Brotherly Success in Men’s Doubles
Hours before his singles victory, Félix Lebrun teamed up with his brother Alexis Lebrun to reach the men’s doubles semifinals. According to reporting from L’Équipe, the French top seeds defeated Hong Kong’s Chan Baldwin and Wong Chun Ting three games to one (11–8, 11–8, 7–11, 11–7).
The French pair fought through a tight opening frame locked at 7–7 before securing the final points. After dominating the early stages of the second set, they withstood a late push from the fifth-ranked pair in the world to establish a two-game lead. Although Chan and Wong claimed the third game, the Lebrun brothers responded in the fourth to seal the match.
Lebrun Brothers Seek Third Grand Smash Title
For a place in the doubles final, the Lebrun brothers will face China’s Wen Ruibo and Yuan Licen, who are ranked seventh in the world, L’Équipe noted. The French duo is pursuing a third Grand Smash title this season following previous victories in Singapore and Sweden. Meanwhile, Alexis Lebrun faced South Korea’s Jang Woojin in his own singles match scheduled for approximately 12:30 local time.
