Alex LANIER, Christo and Toma Junior POPOV, the winning trio
Christo POPOV entertains the audience
From the start of the match, the French runner-up met his home crowd's expectations by dominating the first set. He took off, and even though he lost a bit of intensity towards the end of the set, leaving NG Ka Long Angus hoping for a comeback, he finished solidly (21/15).
But the Hong Kong player wasn't done yet. More aggressive, he took the lead early in the second set, taking advantage of a slightly less explosive Christo, and led by three points at the break. But that was without taking into account the "third man" in this match: the adidas arena crowd, who were fully behind the Frenchman's cause. Encouraged by his supporters, Christo held firm, gradually gained ground, then overtook the world number 22 to finally win with a score of 21/16.
Christo POPOV will return to the courts tomorrow for a major challenge: facing world number 1, SHI Yu Qi (China).
Alex LANIER enforces logic
After defeated Kantaphon WANGCHAROEN at the first round, the French number one at the ranking continue his journey, in dominating Aria DINATA.
Representing Croatia since January 2023, the Jakarta’s child, who secured the bronze medal in the men singles event at the 2025 European championship to Horsens, Denmark, in last April, participated at his first World Championships. Practising partly in ACBB Academy (Boulogne-Billancourt, France) and partly in Croatia, he has a singular life journey. Maybe, he will be able to regret the first set. Playing eye to eye with the 2025 European champion (6/6, 11/10, 17/17), DINATA failed to seize his chance after the numerous errors of the French. At the experience, Alex LANIER finishes very well the set (21/17).
More relaxed, Alex showed his superiority. At the break, the gap is done (11/4). All in control, Alex LANIER chain the smashes and win easily the set (21/13) and the match. Enforcing the logic of this nice duel after 44 minutes. At the next round, the world number 7 will play against Hong Yang WENG (no. 11). The two men facing each other at the Indonesian Open last June, but the Chinese, trailing 21-13, had to give up due to injury.
Toma Junior POPOV, the third musketeer qualified
This time, Toma Junior POPOV didn't have to fight during 1h32 to emerge victorious of his match. After his anthology battle againt Anthony Sinisuka GINTING (18/21, 21/19, 23/25), at the first round, Christo’s brother win in 40 minutes. It must be said, on the paper, the opposition is more affordable facing Viren NETTASINGHE (No. 75). And the logic is respected.
Efficient and enjoying some errors of his Sri Lankan opponent, the French player lead logically 11-4 then 16-9. But the break was not done. The country's flag bearer at Olympics Game 2024, here, to Paris, enjoy the relaxation for comeback in the game (16/15, 18/17). But the Sofia’s native keep the control for win the set (21/17).
Still as applicated, POPOV start very well the second set (9-4). Although this is his 4th match in three days, the French player doesn’t appear physically affected. Step by step, he widens the gap (14/6, 17/9) for finish the game by two big smashes to great happiness of the crowd (21/9). At the round 16, Toma Junior POPOV will fight the victorious of the game H. S. PRANNOY (No. 34) and Anders ANTONSEN (No. 2).
Christo POPOV: “I knew I had to stay pretty disciplined, because I was playing against an experienced player, who has good results and who has been on the tour for a long time. I think that today, it was the mental aspect that made the difference. I put a physical effort into the second set, and that allowed me to come out on top. (…) For tomorrow, I'm preparing to face the world number 1. This is the kind of big match we're here for, and I know I'm going to enjoy it 100%.”
Despite his win, Alex LANIER wasn’t satisfied of his-self : “I’m pretty disappointed with myself. I didn’t feel good, I handled the match poorly, I didn’t approach it very well either, so I can only blame myself if I struggled so much. I’ll try to correct that for the next round. It was better in the second set. But towards the end I became a bit mentally weak again… I think I’ll have to be much better if I want to go far.”
Toma Junior POPOV : "It was a bit of a trick match. I was the favorite, but he played his game well. He's still relatively unknown on the tour, but he seemed relaxed and preferred to play on the counter. He had his moment of brilliance when he came back a bit, but after that, I was able to contain him well. Then in the second set, I rolled. [...]Three French players in the round of 16? That's unheard of ! It shows that our ranking in the top 15 is deserved. I hope we'll continue to make history."