Brothers Félix and Alexis Lebrun were crowned European doubles table tennis champions after their clear victory against the Swedes Anton Kallberg and Truls Moregard (3-0), this Sunday, October 20 in Linz, Austria. Aged 18 and 21, they won the first European title in men’s doubles for France since 2004 and the victory of Patrick Chila and Jean-Philippe Gatien in Bremen. Alexis Lebrun will face the German Benedikt Duda at the end of the afternoon to also win a singles title.
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Two months after their two Olympic bronze medals, in singles for Félix and in teams with Simon Gauzy, the Lebrun brothers left no chance to the Swedes Anton Kallberg and Truls Moregard (11-2, 11-6, 11-8) to win their first title of European doubles table tennis champions in Linz.
As Félix holds his racket, in a “penholder” grip, the two brothers have once again grabbed the pen to continue writing the history of the tricolor ping, after a dream summer in Paris. In Linz, Austria, they won the first European title in men’s doubles for France since 2004 and the victory of Patrick Chila and Jean-Philippe Gatien in Bremen. “ I said at the start of these Championships that I wanted to come back with a title “, declared Félix Lebrun after their victory. “ It’s successful, it’s magnificent and I hope that Alexis will get the double, I will experience it as a supporter. »
A golden double within racquet reach
The eldest Alexis can still dream of the double but will have to beat the German Benedikt Duda, 28th in the world, who overthrew Félix Lebrun in the quarter-finals on Saturday, a grueling match lost 3-4 by the youngest of the family, who in anger had then threw his racket to the ground. “ You have to write the most beautiful pages. They are already beautiful, but they can be very very beautiful », declared coach Nathanaël Molin after Alexis’ qualification in the singles final.
After his resounding victory against the Swedish Olympic vice-champion Truls Moregard (4-0) – whom he beat again in doubles – Alexis Lebrun can thus become the third French player to become a European champion in singles, eight years after Emmanuel Lebesson at Budapest and almost 50 years after Jacques Secutin in Prague in 1976.
“ I feel good, I’m relaxed, it’s going to be another great moment, I hope it continues this way “, he declared before heading off to prepare for his final challenge.
More information to come…