Table tennis: Alexis Lebrun, full of mastery, qualifies for the quarter-finals of the WTT Contender in Zagreb

Alexis Lebrun de retour à son meilleur niveau. XinHua – Yang Shiyao

Toujours dans la course pour décrocher une place en simple aux JO de Paris, Alexis Lebrun a encore brillé, ce vendredi 7 juin, à Zagreb.

Joao Geraldo, ranked 72nd in the world, was no match for a Alexis Lebrun in top form as the Olympic deadline approaches. The Portuguese, swept aside 11-5, 11-8 and 11-8 by the Montpellier native, never upset the eldest of the Lebrun siblings.

Precious points

Currently ranked 30th in the world, this qualification for the quarter-finals, coupled with the defeat of Simon Gauzy (28th) against the Iranian world number 57 Noshad Alamiyan (5-11, 10-12, 12-10, 11-6, 11-7), in the 8th finals, allows Alexis Lebrun to overtake his direct competitor for the second singles spot at the Olympics, behind Félix Lebrun. And this, eleven days before the end of the points count (June 18).

On Saturday, he will challenge the Nigerian Quadri Aruna (world number 16) or the Japanese Sora Matsushima (world number 37).

In doubles, the 20-year-old also shone alongside Simon Gauzy, reaching the semi-finals of the draw after an authoritative victory against the pair Taiwanese Cheng-Jui Kao and Chih-Yuan Chuang (11-6, 11-9, 6-11, 11-4).