VIDEO. Alexis Lebrun wins in the first round in Ljubljana, his selection for the Paris 2024 Olympics is a little closer

Alexis Lebrun est en grande forme en ce moment. XinHua – Luka Batelic

Alexis Lebrun s’est qualifié pour le deuxième tour du WTT Star Contender de Ljubljana (Slovénie) alors que son principal concurrent à une qualification olympique, Simon Gauzy, a été éliminé dès le premier tour, jeudi 13 juin.

There is no longer a shadow of doubt about it. Alexis Lebrun should accompany his brother Félix during the singles tournament of the next Paris 2024 Olympic Games, this summer in Paris. Although the official selection will not be announced until next Friday, the eldest of the Montpellier brothers should be there in July at the Arena Paris Sud.

Especially thanks to his recent performances against top 20 players – one of the Federation's selection criteria –, like this defeat in five sets against the Chinese world No.4 Liang Jingkun in Chongqing at the beginning of June. But also because of its recent results.

It goes for Lebrun, not for Gauzy

Having just won his first title on the world circuit, last Sunday at the WTT Contender in Zagreb (Croatia), Alexis Lebrun actually made the short trip to the Slovenian capital with success. The new 18th in the world seriously beat the Taiwanese Kao Cheng-Ju (32nd in the world) 3 to 0 (14-12, 11-4, 11-9), Thursday, during the first round of the WTT Star Contender from Ljubljana.

𝐖𝐓𝐓 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐝𝐞 𝐋𝐣𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐣𝐚𝐧𝐚 🏓

En feu, Alexis Lebrun écarte Kao Cheng Jui en trois manches (3-0) ✅

📍 Tous les résultats de la journée ➡️ https://t.co/tzdyFURrSI

📺 RMC Sport pic.twitter.com/SfXM0sUIx0

— Fédération Française de Tennis de Table (@ffttofficiel) June 13, 2024

While at the same time, Simon Gauzy (29th) lost 3 to 1 (11-4, 10-12, 6-11, 8-11) against Dane Anders Lind (61st), to undoubtedly say goodbye to any chance of Olympic qualification, in favor of Alexis Lebrun, with whom he has just won the doubles tournament in Zagreb. In the next round, the Montpellier native will face the Japanese Tomokazu Harimoto (11th).

Exempt from the first round, Félix Lebrun (5th) will enter the competition against the Belgian Cedric Nuytinck (92nd), this Friday. With the aim of scoring points in this tournament in order to get closer to fourth place in the world, which could allow it to only face the Chinese in the semi-final during the Olympic Games.< /p>