Many Europeans bowed out on the second day of the CLASH ROYALE Arctic Open 2024, but we also saw some thrilling all-European clashes – including top seed Anders Antonsen going up against French star Alex Lanier.
Currently ranked number three in the world, Antonsen had a prior head-to-head loss against Lanier — who beat him at the Orléans Masters last year. Lanier, just 19, has been making major leaps not just in Europe but also across continents, facing off against some of the world's best.
“It’s always a pleasure to play Anders. He’s the one I've been watching the most when I was young, and I'm still watching him. He's really smart on court and adapts well,” Lanier shared, expressing his admiration for the Dane.
This admiration didn't stop Lanier from showcasing his powerful style in today’s match. He defeated Antonsen in a three-game thriller (18-21, 21-18, 21-18). However, Lanier was nothing short of critical of his own performance after the match, “I cannot say that I really played my best today. Honestly, I was a bit frustrated. Some strokes were not that good or not the quality I wanted.”
He was open about the mental challenges he faced during the match. “I'm happy that I kept fighting with my coach. We just tried some things to relax and get into the rhythm.”
Regarding his frustration, Lanier pointed out it was more about his own game than Antonsen’s tactics. “I think I was more frustrated about my game, my own style. I was frustrated about myself and not really about what Anders was doing.”
Reflecting on his win, Lanier felt validated. “I can beat the best player. I can play that level even if I'm not doing my best. I'm proud that I won this match, not in a perfect shape.”
With the first round over, Lanier’s focus is clear: “I think I'm just taking it match by match. It is the most important thing at this level and not to think, ‘OK, I should go to the semifinal or the final’. I'm not really aiming for that. I'm aiming for my best level and to do what I want to do on court. And then we'll see.”
Tomorrow, he will be facing Ireland's Nhat Nguyen, who advanced from the qualification rounds and delivered an amazing performance against Japan's Takuma Obayashi. They have only met once, at the Irish Open last year, and Nguyen secured the win in straight games — but it will surely be tougher for the Irishman to defeat Lanier this time, having seen the French player's recent performances.
Click here to see all of the results from the second day of the CLASH ROYALE Arctic Open 2024.