Alexis Lebrun advances as Gauzy exits China Smash

Alexis Lebrun has reached the second round of the China Smash in Beijing, while Simon Gauzy has been eliminated. The result leaves three French men in the singles draw after Felix Lebrun and Flavien Coton also won their opening matches. They will face each other in the next round, giving France two representatives in that section of the draw.

Lebrun, the world No. 8, defeated Poland’s Milosz Redzimski, ranked 54th, in four games, 11-7, 11-8, 9-11, 11-2. The match lasted 24 minutes. After Redzimski took the third game, Lebrun responded decisively in the fourth, conceding only two points. His next opponent will be India’s Manav Vikash Thakkar, whom he defeated last month in Macao. Thakkar is ranked 50th in the world.

Thakkar had earlier produced the upset involving Gauzy, beating the French world No. 28 by 9-11, 9-11, 11-7, 11-5, 12-10 in 38 minutes. Gauzy appeared in control after taking the first two games, but Thakkar changed the match by winning the third 11-7 and the fourth 11-5. The deciding game stayed close: Gauzy led 8-6 and 9-7, before Thakkar levelled at 10-10 and claimed the final two points.

Thibault Poret, ranked 21st, also went out after losing 4-11, 11-8, 11-6, 14-12 to China’s Peng Xiang, the world No. 34. The China Smash is the final Grand Smash tournament of the year, and three French men now remain in contention for the singles title.