Alexis Lebrun Fails in Montpellier: Four Match Points Are Not Enough

TVS News AI, editorially supervised, presents Alexis Lebrun Fails in Montpellier: Four Match Points Are Not Enough.

Four match points, but an immediate exit nevertheless: Alexis Lebrun still had a genuine chance of reaching the next round at the Champions de Montpellier tournament on Wednesday. Against Patrick Franziska, the home favorite initially trailed after losing the first two sets, fought his way back in the third, but ultimately lost.

For you as a table tennis fan, the result is particularly relevant because of his background: Lebrun is from Montpellier himself. As a result, a large part of the attention at this tournament may focus on him. However, in his first match, he has to accept a 3:2 defeat.

The match lasted considerably longer than the final score initially suggests. Lebrun won one of the five sets 14:12 and even had four match points in that same set. Only the final two sets brought Franziska the victory.

The Opening Ends After Five Tight Sets

The first set

The first set ended 9:11 to Franziska. The eventual winner had therefore taken the opening set with a clear advantage.

Lebrun was behind again in the second set. The first two sets went to Franziska 4:11. The home favorite was therefore trailing 0:2 after the start.

The turnaround in the third set

The third set became the turning point of the match. Lebrun turned it into a 14:12 win and reclaimed a set. It is particularly striking that he had four match points in that set and still managed to win it.

That was the biggest chance of reaching the second round: four opportunities, one of them converted — the third set brought him back into the match. What followed, however, was decided differently.

Why the Four Match Points Were Not Enough in the End

Franziska remains stable in the final two sets as well

Patrick Franziska won the fourth set 11:7. Although Lebrun had shown a response with his 14:12 victory in the third set, Franziska won the subsequent set once again by four points.

Franziska was also ahead in the fifth and final set. He prevailed 11:9. The gap at the end was considerably smaller than in the fourth set, but Lebrun's comeback was no longer enough to force another set.

The match therefore ended 3:2 to Patrick Franziska. The comeback did not develop into a turnaround: Lebrun won the third set but then missed the opportunity to level the score and was unable to save all of his opponent's match points.

What the Exit Means for the Home Favorite

No second day at his own tournament

Lebrun's elimination means, first and foremost, that he failed in the first round and has consequently already been eliminated from the tournament on Wednesday. The early end prevents any further appearances at this tournament.

Patrick Franziska won the head-to-head after the 3:2 defeat. Despite recovering in the third set with the help of his four match points, Lebrun did not win another set.

The reporting by L’Équipe provides neither the exact distribution of the four match points nor the score progression in the remaining sets. The result, the five sets, the 14:12 victory and the four match points in the third set are firmly established.

More value for you

For everyone who wants to understand the match in detail: The decisive factor was not only the 0:2 deficit at the start, but also the missed opportunity in the third set. As the direct opponent, Franziska won the final two sets 11:7 and 11:9.

In the end, one thing remains clear: Four match points were not enough to save Alexis Lebrun's home tournament debut.