French badminton players Alex Lanier and Christo Popov reached the semi-finals of the French Open on Friday, October 23, at the Arena Grand Paris in Tremblay-en-France.
Lanier Overcomes Popov in Three-Set Quarter-Final Battle
Alex Lanier secured his semi-final spot by defeating compatriot Toma Junior Popov in a 71-minute encounter that ended 16-21, 21-16, 21-16. Toma Junior Popov, representing Fos-sur-Mer, took the opening game after coming off a victory earlier in the week against world number one Kunlavut Vitidsarn of Thailand. Lanier, the 21-year-old reigning world champion, gradually reclaimed control of the match by taking the next two games by identical margins. Le troisième set a notamment été marqué par une forte tension, les deux joueurs se retrouvant à égalité à 13-13 avant que Lanier ne fasse la différence. More precise in the crucial rallies, Lanier ultimately made the difference to secure the victory and advance further in the tournament.
Triumvirate from France, Christo Popov, Alex Lanier, and Toma Popov now have a Semifinal S1000.Christo: All England 2024 (lost SF)Lanier: All England 2025 (lost SF)Toma: China Open 2026Can Toma reach first ever France in S1000 Final? pic.twitter.com/pCyTjwsqB8
Following the match, Lanier acknowledged the physical and mental demands of the contest. After the match, the Frenchman admitted to having been seriously shaken up by his compatriot.
Christo Popov Advances Past Kodai Naraoka
Christo Popov joined his compatriot in the final four by defeating Japan’s Kodai Naraoka 21-15, 21-16 in 46 minutes. Popov, the world number three and younger brother of Toma Junior Popov, maintained control throughout the match against an opponent known for lengthy rallies. The player from Provence delivered a solid performance against an opponent renowned for his ability to extend rallies. Finaliste des Internationaux de France, Popov a su imposer son rythme dès le début de chaque set.
The success extended beyond the singles draw. Reigning world champions Delphine Delrue and Thom Gicquel earned their first semi-final appearance in mixed doubles by defeating Taiwan’s Wu Guan-Xun and Lee Chia-Hsin 21-23, 21-12, 21-14 after losing the opening set.
Tournament Debut at Arena Grand Paris
The French Open moved to the Arena Grand Paris in Tremblay-en-France this year, occupying a 5,500-seat configuration for the Super 750 event after previous editions in Paris and Rennes. Christo Popov had already reached the final of the World Tour Finals at the end of 2025. International badminton remains shaped by the power of Asian nations and Denmark, but the French now have benchmarks of their own.
The venue sits at 1 avenue Traversière, accessible via the RER B station Parc des Expositions followed by a twenty-minute walk or a ride on bus 39 to the Rue du Sausset stop.
Matches on the main court are broadcast on L’Équipe Live. Single-session tickets for Saturday start at €20, while Sunday’s finals begin at 11:00 a.m. local time with tickets starting at €25. Saturday features two semi-final sessions starting at 9:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Christo Popov meets China’s Hu Zhe An. Alex Lanier will face Indonesian Mohammad Zaki Ubaidillah on Saturday in the semi-finals, carrying the ambition to continue his winning streak.
