Alex Lanier gave himself, France, and Europe a surprise victory at the DAIHATSU Japan Open 2024. He became the first Frenchman to win a Super 750 tournament on the Badminton World Tour, accomplishing this feat at 19 years of age.
During the tournament, Lanier only lost a single game to world number one ranked Shi Yu Qi, whom he beat (17-21, 16-21, 18-21).
This truly amazing feat of being the first Frenchman was not an easy accomplishment for Lanier, who had to go through the powerhouses of the Men’s singles division to be able to call himself champion.
Round of 32: Lee Zii Jia
World ranked no. 6 and 2024 Olympic Bronze-medalist Lee Zii Jia (18-21, 13-21)
Round of 16: Chico Aura Dwi Wardoyo
World Ranked no. 34 (21-14, 21-13)
Quarterfinal: Kenta Nishimoto
World Ranked No. 11 and Japan Open 2022 champion (21-14, 21-14)
Semifinal: Shi Yu Qi
World ranked nu 1 and winner of 4 major titles in 2024 (17-21, 16-21, 18-21)
Final: Chou Tien Chen
World Ranked no. 10 and Thailand Masters Champion. (21-17, 22-20)
After the 3-game match against Shi Yu Qi, as Lanier was going into the final, he expressed that he was physically drained but overcame it because of his mental strength.
“I was tired, the body wasn’t there (...) but mentally I tried finding solutions,”
he told CGTN.
Lanier is set to play in the Korea Open 2024 tournament, which starts tomorrow, where he could run into Shi Yu Qi again, already in the Round of 16. But first, the Frenchman has to play against Hong Kong’s Ng Ka Long Angus, whom he has defeated once before, recently at the HYLO Open 2023 (18-21, 21-16, 13-21).
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