Alexis Lebrun: “It’s crazy, I don’t have the words, it was incredible”, after his victory in the final against his brother Félix

Alexis Lebrun est triple champion de France. Midi Libre – DORIAN CAYUELA

Alexis Lebrun was obviously very happy with his victory in the final of the French Table Tennis Championships against his brother Félix (4-2), Sunday March 24 at the FDI Stadium in Montpellier.

We imagine a lot of satisfaction in keeping your title ?

It’s crazy, I don’t have the words, it was incredible. I think we experienced an extraordinary moment, we will remember it for a long, long time. It was a crazy match, Félix had difficulty getting into the match but afterwards he raised his level of play, it was impressive. I managed to fight to win the match, it was incredible, I don't know what to say.

We saw you being impressed by Félix's blows but then you pulled yourself away to win…

The first two sets, he didn't manage to play well. Afterwards, he only landed strikes with forehands so I was quite surprised by his power and what he released in the exchange. So I understood that we were going to have a big match and that I had to raise my level of play if I wanted to have a chance. I took my time, I prepared myself and then I went into battle, knowing that in front of me, I had a great big Felix in front of me. Then I went to get it so I'm super happy.

He is fifth in the world but you remain undefeated against him…

Yes that's it but after that it will start to become complicated, I will have to hang on to maintain this invincibility. I hope I don't play it again too quickly because it's not easy anyway.

Compared to other matches against him, how did it go today ?

It's been two matches since I saw a world number five in front of me. Apart from the first two sets, his level is extraordinary in all the competitions he competes in. I know how well he plays but I know that I am capable of increasing my level of play. That's what I managed to do today so I'm happy.

Each year, the title is more difficult for you to win ?

I don't know but the level in France is really increasing, with a great French team, so it's more and more complicated. There, that's three times but I'm hanging on and I hope to continue this momentum. It’s a competition that is very close to my heart so I’m really happy to play well here.

You manage to detach yourself from what is happening at each point, that’s a real strength?

This is my frustration in my semi-final where I did not manage to enjoy myself enough and be open to play my best level. For the final, I decided to first enjoy the moment and that's why I managed to play my best level. I was quite happy when I scored good points, but that's also why I play ping so it was huge.

Félix is ​​obviously disappointed, what will his big brother say to him?

This evening we are going to eat at the restaurant, we will enjoy it even if tomorrow we leave for Korea. He knows it, I don’t have much to say, he’s a huge champion. I think it’s with him that we’re going to get the best things with the France team. I will try to work on my own to increase my level and succeed in supporting him. But I think he is our leader and it is thanks to him that we have done great things during the team matches each time. So we're going to go look for nice things together.

How does it feel to see your little brother inconsolable, in tears like that ?

It’s true that it’s hard. Winning in Montpellier was important to him and to me too. We knew that it was a match different from the others so it’s sure to be a difficult pill to swallow. But I think that with hindsight, he will realize that we had a crazy moment. And for that, it’s exceptional. So thank you to the organization, to my sister Margaux who pulled away so seeing her in tears at the end of the match was too much emotion. There I am on another planet…

You achieve the hat-trick in the French championship, do you realize ?

Not really. It’s true that it’s crazy, it’s a competition that I love and that I check off every year, where I feel really good wherever I want to to be good. So I'm super happy, that's three times in a row that I've won, the one before that I made the semi-final. For the moment, I haven't had much disappointment during the French Championships, I hope it will continue like this.

You don't play every day in France, you had a taste of what will happen at the Olympic Games this summer?

Yes obviously, the audience there was great. The French public is something else all the same, it’s the best public in the world by far. We saw an incredible atmosphere at all the matches. It’s a great taste to play like that at home in front of everyone and it will be even stronger this summer.

What happens with you can change things in Montpellier ?

I hope! We're on a good path, there's a lot of stuff happening. We are having a good season in Pro A, we are on track to maintain our position with the ANMTT. The "France" this week, the WTT Champions in October… There are lots of things happening in Montpellier and ping pong is on a good track in Montpellier and I hope that it will continue, that we will manage to be able to stay here long enough and continue to enjoy it moments like that.

The Lutz sisters both played in the final, ping pong is a family affair?

Chance did things well, Camille and Charlotte are two extraordinary players too. They managed to find themselves in the final so it’s not an easy situation. They are less used to finding themselves in this kind of matches than us. It couldn't have been easy, but Camille had a great match, so the seniors managed to hold on. But it's going to turn out and it's going to be hot to keep going like this all the time.