Beaten in four short sets (8-11 6-11 7-11 5-11) by the Chinese Fan Zhendong, Félix Lebrun did not achieve the feat of beating the world number 4 and qualifying for the final of the 2024 Olympic Games. The French prodigy will play for the bronze medal against the Swede Moregard or the Brazilian Calderano.
12:05 – The step was too high, the summary
Opposed to the Chinese and world number 4 Fan Zhendong, Félix Lebrun will not see the Olympic final. The Frenchman suffered the law of his opponent (8-11 6-11 7-11 5-11) in about thirty minutes. In a molten Arena Paris Sud 4, the French table tennis player came up against the opposing wall. Indeed, the Olympic vice-champion made very few mistakes and was very effective on the counter. If the Montpellier player tried over the points and minutes to vary to destabilize his opponent, the difference was too great between the two table tennis players despite the strokes of genius of the Frenchman. Defeated in the semi-final, Félix Lebrun will play Sunday at 1:30 p.m., the match for the bronze medal against the Swede Truls Moregard or the Brazilian Hugo Calderano.
12:00 – Second Olympic final for Zhendong
After winning silver in Tokyo in 2021, Fan Zhendong will have the opportunity to win gold this year in Paris.
11:55 – Lebrun does not join Gatien
Soundly beaten by Fan Zhendong, Félix Lebrun will not join Jean-Philippe Gatien, Olympic vice-champion in Barcelona in 1992.
11:50 – Lebrun: “No way to win”
Félix Lebrun on France 2 after his defeat: “I think he played a great match. I had the feeling he wasn’t making any mistakes. I was hoping to hang on to him a bit more but I got taken down. Now, there’s a medal to go for. With our level of play, there was no way we could win it. I’m going to try to go for this Olympic medal which is a dream.”
11:45 – A medal to go and get
Although the gold will not be won by Félix Lebrun, the French table tennis player will nevertheless be able to win bronze in the small final. He will face the loser of the other Olympic semi-final, opposing this Friday at 2:30 p.m., the Swede Truls Moregard to the Brazilian Hugo Calderano.
11:38 – “Felix, Felix, Felix”
Félix Lebrun leaves the Arena Paris Sud 4 to a standing ovation from the French crowd, who chant “Félix, Félix, Félix”, despite the defeat against Fan Zhendong.
11:34 – No final for Lebrun (8-11 6-11 7-11 5-11)
Fan Zhendong was simply too strong today. Cheered on by the crowd, Félix Lebrun lost heavily in four sets (8-11 6-11 7-11 5-11) in the semi-final of the JO 2024 and will play for the bronze medal.
11:33 – Zhendong in total control (8-11 6-11 7-11 4-10)
It’s complicated for Félix Lebrun! The score is in favor of Fan Zhendong who should play his second Olympic singles final.
11:31 – Success again (8-11 6-11 7-11 3-6)
While Félix Lebrun had managed to push Fan Zhendong back, the Chinese player puts it back as best he can and hits the net on his backhand. The Frenchman wants to continue but his topspin goes long.
11:30 – Lebrun gets annoyed (8-11 6-11 7-11 3-4)
Fan Zhendong is simply too strong for Félix Lebrun who gets annoyed after a forehand start that ends up in the net.
11:29 – Lebrun acclaimed (8-11 6-11 7-11 3-2)
Very early ball capture and change of direction for Félix Lebrun who leaves Fan Zhendong several meters from the table.
11:28 – What a festival (8-11 6-11 7-11 1-1)
After an exchange in the middle of the table where the balls flew, Fan Zhendong sent a diagonal backhand slap which left Félix Lebrun literally on the spot.
11:26 – Lebrun in great danger (8-11 6-11 7-11)
Fan Zhendong is simply better than Félix Lebrun in the first three sets. The Chinese player does not make any mistakes while Félix Lebrun fails to make the difference. The French table tennis player will have to dig deep to beat the world number 4.
11:23 – Zhendong more solid (8-11 6-11 5-8)
After his time-out, Félix Lebrun tries and varies but it doesn’t work against the Chinese.
11:22 – Time-out (8-11 6-11 4-5)
After a good start to the third round, Félix Lebrun gives up four points. Timeout requested by Nathanaël Molin.
11:21 – Nice zone (8-11 6-11 4-3)
Since the beginning of the match, Fan Zhendong has had this ease in finding a very central area on the table. Félix Lebrun has not managed to move to put the ball back.
11:20 – First break (8-11 6-11 4-1)
Félix Lebrun is no longer the same at the table. The Frenchman is much more offensive and is pounding the Chinese on the backhand.
11:19 – On success (8-11 6-11 1-1)
Since the start of the match, Fan Zhendong has had some luck, like this backhand shot that hits the net.
11:18 – Lebrun with his back to the wall! (8-11 6-11)
On this little game of throw-ins, Félix Lebrun touches the ball with the edge and concedes the second set of the match.
11:17 – Zhendong solid (8-11 6-10)
A gesture of frustration for Félix Lebrun who seems considerably embarrassed by Fan Zhendong’s ability to put everything back on the table.
11:16 – Chinese in management (8-11 6-8)
Since the start of the match, Fan Zhendong has won the vast majority of long exchanges and fights on the table.
11:15 – Too bad (8-11 6-6)
On a serve from Zhendong, Félix Lebrun sees his pass fly away and the Chinese player takes advantage to attack.
11:14 – Lebrun in contact (8-11 5-5)
Although he still cannot take the lead, Félix Lebrun does not let himself be left behind thanks to another backhand start.