Table tennis: humiliated by Lin Shidong, Alexis Lebrun is eliminated in the group stage of the World Cup in Macau

Finishing in second place in his group, Alexis Lebrun is eliminated from the World Cup in Macau. Free Midi – DORIAN CAYUELA

Condemned to the feat after his failed debut on Tuesday, Alexis Lebrun did not resist the attacks on the rising star of Chinese ping, Lin Shidong, 18th in the world, who swept him away four sets to zero (11-7, 11-8, 11-8, 11-4). He was eliminated from the World Cup in the group stage. 

With his back against the wall, Alexis Lebrun absolutely had to win his second group match to hope to reach the round of 16. Determined, he started the meeting with his feet on the floor, aware of what was at stake. More offensive and aggressive, he managed to show a completely different face compared to the first match, where the French champion was unrecognizable. But this aggressiveness made him commit a lot of unforced errors, which, combined with the accuracy of the Chinese, had already put Alexis Lebrun on the verge of elimination at the end of the first set, won by Lin Shidong.

Eliminated in the second set

It’s simple, from that moment on, Alexis no longer had the right to make mistakes. Each point won by the Frenchman is celebrated, but each point won by the Chinese brought him closer to the exit. He hung on, resisted, but the Chinese broke away at 5-3, 6-3, continuing to attack the Frenchman, who despite his good defense, ended up crack. And with a final backhand mistake, the Frenchman lost the second set, synonymous with elimination.

The next two sets are bitter. Looking crestfallen, the Frenchman struggled not to show his disappointment when the Chinese continued to be exceptional offensively. The Chinese won the third, then the fourth. Defeat 4 sets to 0 for the Frenchman, who is already saying goodbye to the World Cup, eliminated in the group stage.