PETALING JAYA: French boy Alex Lanier is a star in the making.
The 19-year-old crowned his fairy-tale run in the Japan Open men’s singles yesterday by pulling off another sensational win – a 21-17, 22-20 victory over Taiwan’s world No. 10 Chou Tien-chen.
Lanier was again superb as he came back from 11-17 down in the first game and 16-19 behind in the second to snatch the win over Tien-chen, who is ranked 19 spots above him. The teenage sensation had also stunned Malaysia’s world No. 6 Lee Zii Jia, China’s world No. 1 Shi Yuqi and world No. 11 homester Kenta Nishimoto en route to the final.
It was Lanier’s maiden World Tour Super 750 title win after previously capturing the Super 100 Canada Open in 2022.
The Canada tourney was upgraded to Super 500 status this year and he finished runner-up in July.
Lanier was happy with his achievement and believes his hard work during the two-month World Tour hiatus as the Paris Olympics was held has paid off.
“Honestly, I gave everything I had on court. I knew before the final I was tired but mentally, I tried to find solutions,” said Lanier, in a post match interview with the Badminton World Federation (BWF). “Tien-chen was controlling the game. I tried many strategies on court to disrupt his rhythm and I managed to do it.
“I’m proud of my work with my coach. I pushed myself hard during the Olympic period and it paid off.”
Lanier is currently the third ranked Frenchman in the men’s singles after Toma Popov (No. 19) and the latter’s brother, Christo (No. 26) but is likely to overtake both and become a force to be reckoned with if he can maintain his strong form.
FINAL RESULTS
Men’s singles: Alex Lanier (Fre) bt Chou Tien-chen (Tpe) 21-17, 22-20.
Men’s doubles: Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani bt Kang Min-hyuk-Seo Seung-jae (Kor) 21-19, 21-15.
Women’s singles: Akane Yamaguchi (Jpn) bt Busanan Ongbamrungphan (Tha) 21-11, 21-10.
Women’s doubles: Liu Shengshu-Tan Ning (Chn) bt Baek Ha-na-Lee So-hee (Kor) 21-18, 22-20.
Mixed doubles: Jiang Zhenbang-Wei Yaxin (Chn) bt Tang Chun Man-Tse Ying Suet (Hkg) 21-12, 21-12.
