(by Steve Hopkins, photo WTT)
Six months ago at the WTT Champions Macao 2022, France’s Alexis Lebrun introduced himself to the world with a surprise upset over World No. 3 Liang Jingkun. Six months later, Alexis has returned to Macao for the WTT Champions Macao 2023 – and he has improved upon last year’s results in epic fashion.
Alexis defeated World No. 6 Truls Moregard in the opening round – closing out the match with two tight wins after finding himself down 1-2. Alexis then had a walk-over win against Lin Yun-Ju who withdrew due to an injury to his hand suffered in the first round. This pushed Alexis forward into today’s Quarterfinal match with World No. 1 Fan Zhendong that Alexis won 3-2. In a strange match, Alexis won the first game relatively easily (11-7), Fan was solidly throughout the second game (winning 11-8), the two split the next two games with one dominating each (11-5 to Alexis and then 11-5 to Fan). And in the tightest and deciding fifth game, it was 8-8 before two great serves put Alexis up 10-8. Fan won the next point to put the pressure on, but an Alexis backhand block caught the edge to end the match 11-9.
Alexis Lebrun will face Ma Long in one Semifinal. Ma Long easily topped Hugo Calderano 3-0 in their Quarterfinal match today. The other Semifinal will be between Tomokazu Harimoto and Wang Chuqin. Its a competitive field, but World Nos. 2, 3, and 4 are all represented in the Final 4 (along with Alexis at World No. 22).
Other matches of interest in earlier rounds include Hugo Calderano topping Dimitrij Ovtcharov 3-1, Darko Jorgic defeating World No. 7 Liang Jingkun, a tight first round win by Harimoto over Lin Shidong 3-2, and Wang Chuqin who needed a comeback to top Korea’s Jang Woojin 3-2 in their Quarterfinal match.
Action will pick up on Saturday with the Semifinals. We’ll have more updates soon.
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