France table tennis champions league final after stunning düsseldorf win
The Alliance Nîmes-Montpellier Table Tennis team has written a new chapter in French table tennis history by securing their place in the Champions League final. The young French squad delivered a masterclass performance on Saturday, defeating the formidable Borussia Düsseldorf 3-1 in a thrilling semifinal showdown.
This historic achievement marks the club’s first-ever appearance in a Champions League final, a feat made possible by the exceptional performances of the Lebrun brothers. After their heartbreaking elimination in the team world championships earlier this year, Alexis and Félix Lebrun returned with renewed determination to lead their team to glory.
Alexis and Félix Lebrun deliver championship-level performances
Alexis Lebrun, France’s number 12 player, set the tone with a commanding 3-0 victory over Düsseldorf’s top seed Dang Qiu (ranked number 10 globally). The Montpellier native dominated the match with scores of 11-5, 11-8, and 11-8, demonstrating his world-class precision and control.
In the post-match interview, Alexis reflected on his performance: “Against Dang Qiu, every point feels like a battle, but today I played one of my best matches. The team needed this, and I’m proud to have delivered.”
The momentum continued as Félix Lebrun, France’s rising star ranked number 3, took the court. Despite facing Swedish player Anton Källberg, the younger Lebrun showed no signs of nerves, securing a hard-fought 3-0 victory (11-9, 16-14, 11-8). The second set proved particularly challenging, with Félix saving multiple set points before closing it out in dramatic fashion.
Félix Lebrun’s clutch performance seals the deal
The final rubber saw Félix once again step up when it mattered most. With the match hanging in the balance, he faced off against the American Kanak Jha in a nail-biting four-set encounter. After dropping the third set, Félix showed incredible resilience, ultimately prevailing 11-9, 12-10, 8-11, 11-9.
The victory was particularly sweet for Félix, who saved three match points in the opening set before going on to dominate the decider. His emotional celebration, arms raised in triumph, encapsulated the team’s incredible journey to the final.
Match results summary
- Match 1: Alexis Lebrun (FRA/N.12) defeats Dang Qiu (GER/N.10) 11-5, 11-8, 11-8
- Match 2: Félix Lebrun (FRA/N.3) defeats Anton Källberg (SWE/N.32) 11-9, 16-14, 11-8
- Match 3: Kanak Jha (USA/N.27) defeats Manav Thakkar (IND/N.37) 11-9, 12-10, 8-11, 11-9
- Match 4: Félix Lebrun (FRA/N.3) defeats Dang Qiu (GER/N.10) 16-14, 9-11, 11-5, 11-8
The Alliance Nîmes-Montpellier team will now face the FC Sarrebruck in the final, a club widely regarded as the tournament’s powerhouse. With Fan Zhendong leading their charge, the German team will be heavy favorites when the two sides meet on Sunday at 2 p.m. local time.
The final promises to be an absolute spectacle, pitting French ambition against German dominance in what could be the most competitive match of the tournament so far. One thing is certain: the Alliance Nîmes-Montpellier team has already made history, and their journey to the final has captivated table tennis fans across the country.
