South Korean table tennis player Woojin Jang captured the WTT Champions Montpellier title at the Sud de France Arena, rallying from the brink of defeat to defeat Germany’s Patrick Franziska in a dramatic seven-set final. In the women’s draw, China’s world No. 2 Sun Yingsha defeated compatriot Kuai Man in five sets to claim the trophy.
Early Dominance Gives Way to a South Korean Fightback
The men’s singles final opened with unexpected control from Franziska. Ranked No. 18 in the world, the German player had previously eliminated Alexis Lebrun in the 16es de finale. Franziska maintained a clinical pace in the opening exchanges, cruising through the first set 3-11. Jang, ranked No. 10 globally, responded in the second by tightening his defensive returns to level the score at 11-7.
WTT Champions Montpellier…Men’s final: 🇰🇷 Jang Woojin vs 🇩🇪 Patrick FranziskaWomen’s final:🇨🇳 Kuai Man vs 🇨🇳 Sun Yingsha (via Pongistics) pic.twitter.com/gPJcwLY3S6
The momentum swung back and forth through the middle stages of the match. Franziska captured both the third and fourth sets (7-11, 9-11), putting himself within reach of the championship. Facing a deficit, Jang avoided elimination by asserting control with composed play in the fifth and sixth sets, winning both 11-9 and 11-8 to force a deciding seventh game.
With the title on the line, Jang completed the comeback by taking the final set 11-8, securing the WTT Champions trophy in what was a crushing disappointment for Franziska, who held the upper hand for much of the afternoon encounter. The two players had previously met six times in their respective careers, with Jang holding a four-to-two head-to-head advantage prior to Sunday’s clash.
Chinese Dominance Continues in the Women’s Tournament
In the women’s division, world No. 2 Sun Yingsha secured the Montpellier title by defeating fifth-ranked Kuai Man 8-11, 11-7, 11-3, 11-9, 11-6. Despite dropping the opening set, Sun controlled the remaining rallies to claim her first WTT Champions crown since winning in Macao in 2025.
The victory adds 1000 ranking points to Sun’s total, moving her closer to Wang Manyu. The result mirrors the 2025 tournament, where a Chinese player similarly lifted the trophy in the Hérault department.
Early Exits for French Contenders
Both Simon Gauzy and Félix Lebrun exited the competition during the round of 16 following unexpected defeats at the Sud de France Arena. The absence of players like Félix and Alexis Lebrun, Truls Moregard, and Hugo Calderano from the final left the door open for Jang and Franziska to contest the championship.
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