Lebrun and Popov Brothers Navigate Rivalry in French Racket Sports

French racket sports are currently dominated by two sets of brothers where the younger sibling sits higher in the global rankings, forcing both pairs to navigate elite competition, fierce rivalries, and deep familial bonds. In table tennis, 20-year-old Félix Lebrun holds the world number two spot, while his 23-year-old brother, Alexis, ranks eighth. In badminton, 24-year-old Christo Popov achieved the world number one ranking in October 2026, surpassing his 28-year-old brother, Toma Junior Popov, who currently stands thirteenth globally. Both pairs spoke to RMC Sport about how they manage their competitive dynamics without letting ambition fracture their personal relationships.

Balancing Fraternal Rivalry and Shared Ambition

For Alexis Lebrun, watching his younger brother Félix claim an Olympic bronze medal at the Paris 2024 Games, win a Grand Smash event, and capture the European singles title does not breed resentment. Instead, the older Lebrun views his sibling as a benchmark for his own career trajectory in international table tennis.

“I also had good performances, a little less than him, but as a result I want to reach his level because for the moment he is a little stronger than me,” Alexis Lebrun said, as reported by RMC Sport. Rather than focusing solely on internal friction, he measures himself against global competitors like Tomokazu Harimoto, Truls Moregard, Wang Chuqin, and Sora Matsushima, treating his brother’s success as proof of what is possible.

That sentiment is echoed within the Popov household in badminton. Christo Popov made history in October 2026 by capturing the French Open title and becoming the first French player ever to reach the world number one spot in men’s singles, adding to his 2025 World Tour Finals victory and European Championship crown. Toma Junior Popov, who owns a runner-up finish at the Super 1000 level alongside Super 100 and Super 300 titles, acknowledged the shift in their dynamic.

“For the moment, he has overtaken me, but for a long time, that was not the case,” Toma Junior Popov said, according to RMC Sport. “But it pushes me even more to surpass him now.”

Shared Training Grounds and Doubles Partnerships

Despite competing in individual disciplines, both sets of brothers spend significant time training together, which fosters a mutual understanding rather than a bitter divide. Christo Popov noted that because they practice side by side and know each other’s tendencies intimately, any milestone reached by one serves as concrete evidence that the other can achieve it.

Beyond singles competition, both the Lebruns and the Popovs share another common thread: they frequently partner in doubles. The Lebrun brothers currently hold the number one ranking in men’s doubles on the international circuit. Félix Lebrun emphasized that sharing the court in doubles creates memorable experiences that reinforce their partnership.

“It’s a plus to be brothers and to evolve in the same sport, at a high level,” Félix Lebrun said, as reported by RMC Sport. “I think we can only pull each other up. We can give each other advice. When one succeeds, we also tell ourselves that it’s possible, that we can do it.”

Toma Junior Popov expressed a similar view regarding the emotional stability of having family present during grueling international tours. In an individual sport where travel and pressure can isolate athletes, having a brother in the draw provides an anchor of 100 percent trust.

“The fact that we practice an individual sport, having your brother, whether in the team or in the tournament, allows for a certain stability,” Toma Junior Popov said, as reported by RMC Sport. “You feel less alone.”

Lessons Learned from Previous French Sporting Dynasties

The delicate balance required to maintain a healthy relationship while competing at the highest level is not lost on French sports history. RMC Sport noted a parallel with the Fourcade brothers in biathlon, where older brother Simon Fourcade was jealous of the success of the younger Martin Fourcade. Martin Fourcade, six-time Olympic champion, acknowledged in a February television appearance on Bartoli Time that the competitive friction temporarily strained their relationship before they transformed it into a mutual strength. Simon Fourcade noted that the period of distance proved to be a formative experience that ultimately guided their lives.

In contrast, the Lebruns and Popovs maintain that their day-to-day interactions remain entirely free of professional jealousy. Alexis Lebrun admitted that his primary competitive frustrations are typically reserved for casual video game matches like FIFA or League of Legends rather than professional tournaments.

“We will fight much more over a FIFA match or a League of Legends match than over badminton,” Toma Junior Popov joked to RMC Sport.

Looking Ahead to Global Competitions

With both younger brothers currently holding higher global rankings, the older siblings continue to chase their benchmarks while doubling as vocal supporters from the stands or the sidelines. Alexis Lebrun was present in the arena to witness Félix claim his first Grand Smash title, while Toma Junior Popov watched Christo secure his victory at the French Open.

Both families share unified long-term ambitions on the international calendar. The Popov brothers are aiming to qualify together for the Olympic Games in men’s singles, while the Lebrun brothers look toward establishing a dominant presence at the very top of the global rankings, where both aim to secure positions inside the world’s top three.