Table tennis. Quarter-final between the Lebrun brothers in the European Top 16: how Alexis beat Félix to remain undefeated against him ?

Le duel entre les frères Lebrun a tourné à l'avantage d'Alexis. Capture d'écran La chaîne L'Equipe

Opposed in the quarter-finals of the European Top 16 table tennis in Montreux (Switzerland) on Saturday January 20, the Lebrun brothers put on a great show. But in the end, as always, Alexis beat Félix (4-2) on Saturday.

He may be ahead in the world rankings – and not just a little – he has still not managed to beat his big brother in an official match. Félix Lebrun, 17 years old and eighth in the world, lost again against Alexis Lebrun, 20 years old and 23rd in the world, under the eyes of everyone. the family, in Montreux, during the European Top 16, bringing together the elite of players from the Old Continent.

Also read: VIDEO REPLAY. Duel between the Lebrun brothers: spectacular exchanges, six high-level rounds… the match to be seen again enters Félix and Alexis Lebrun

"Félix will not be able to beat Alexis this year", the father of the siblings, Stéphane Lebrun, had predicted a few days ago. Saturday's match proved him right, as in the last final of the French singles championships, in Antibes, where Alexis became French champion against his younger brother.

Six months before the Paris Games (July 26 & August 11), the two future standard-bearers of the French Olympic team in any case put on quite a spectacle after having both won their first without any problem. match, a little earlier today.

Félix Lebrun had started well

If smiles were in order during the warm-up, tension immediately took precedence in a meeting during which neither one nor the other ;was accompanied by their coach, Nathanaël Molin, who remained in the stands for the sake of impartiality. He was able to witness a very tight first set, with some superb exchanges, which Félix Lebrun ended up winning with a score of 11-9.

Also read:VIDEO. Incredible exchanges between the Lebrun brothers: opposed in the quarter-final of the European Top 16 table tennis table, Alexis and Félix put on a show

But the stress may have caught up with the one who uses a pen holder, since he lost the second set straight away, Alexis Lebrun not giving him time to breathe, causing numerous unforced errors from his opponent (11-3).

The 23rd in the world continued his demolition work to lead 9-2, before Félix came back to 9-7, in the third set. Moment chosen by the elder Lebrun to take a timeout, break the opponent's dynamic and win the set 11-9, causing two unforced errors to take the lead (2-1).

Alexis Lebrun completes his work

The third set was then again very, very close between the two players from the Nîmes-Montpellier Alliance, but still won by Alexis (11-9), following a winning forehand in pivot, then a fault from Félix

He was only one set away from winning and even if the number one seed in this Top 16 rebelled once again to reduce the lead ;gap at 3-2 (11-5), Alexis Lebrun better managed the money-time at the end of the round with a new lethal forehand, lying down to win, finishing on the ground, like his brother, and rallying the semi-finals to face the Swede Truls Moregard (19th).