Alexis Lebrun retained the title of individual French table tennis champion by dominating his younger brother Félix in the final on Sunday in Antibes (Alpes-Maritimes) where Audrey Zarif was crowned for the first time among women. After losing the first set, Alexis Lebrun (19 years old, 28th in the world) gave his brother, three years his junior, no chance, winning the next four sets quite easily (10-12, 11-7, 11- 7, 11-6, 11-6).
Félix Lebrun (39th in the world) was nevertheless confident, on the strength of his brilliant career at the beginning of the month during an important tournament in Goa, India. He reached the last four there after several performances, notably against world number 6, Sweden’s Truls Moregard. “I had an incredible match, I don’t think I’ve done it often in my life like that,” reacted the eldest of the siblings, who had outclassed Simon Gauzy last year in the final for s adjudicate his first title of national champion.
Audrey Zarif titled in the women’s category
Earlier, in the women’s tournament, Audrey Zarif (24 years old, 98th in the world) won for the first time by dominating Charlotte Lutz (17 years old, 141st) in the final 4 sets to 2 (11-9, 7-11, 8-11, 11-6, 13-11, 15-13), at the Azur Arena. Zarif succeeds Prithika Pavade, who lost this year in the round of 16 to Isa Cok.
The Saint-Denis player, who was aiming for a single and doubles hat-trick, nevertheless left Antibes with the titles of French women’s doubles champion alongside Camille Lutz and mixed doubles with Simon Gauzy.