The French men’s table tennis team claimed a bronze medal at the London World Championships, but all eyes were on Felix Lebrun’s tearful face after his 1-3 loss to Wang Chuqin. The moment “Felix Lebrun cries after being beaten by Wang Chuqin” quickly became a trending topic, marking his eighth consecutive defeat to the Chinese star. The scores were tight: 13-11, 9-11, 11-9, 11-4. At just 19 years old, Lebrun simply couldn’t match the world No. 1, Wang Chuqin.
Upon returning to France on May 12, the French team participated in an interview where the host asked Lebrun why he cried after losing to Wang Chuqin in the semifinals, noting it was his eighth straight loss. “I don’t think he’s just my personal nemesis,” Lebrun said. “I’ve played him often enough. He’s extremely tough to beat, and his style really throws me off—his spin is incredibly strong, and the quality of his first shot is very high.”
“At the end of the day, Wang Chuqin is the world No. 1, so losing to him is nothing to be ashamed of,” Lebrun continued. “I know I’ve lost to him many times—whether it’s eight straight or more—I don’t get too worked up before a match. I just take it one point at a time. I’ve even spent dozens of hours studying his match videos until my eyes hurt. Every match feels new to me, but unfortunately, I just couldn’t win this time.”
The host teased Lebrun about his emotional outbursts on court, comparing them to a child’s behavior. “You stomp your feet, wave your arms wildly when you’re unhappy with a missed shot, and you even hit your head with your racket after missing a key point.” Lebrun acknowledged this, saying, “Yes, I know my emotions aren’t very stable, and the way I release pressure can be a bit extreme. But I’ll work on adjusting my mindset in the future.”
Despite settling for bronze at the London World Championships, the 19-year-old Felix Lebrun remains ranked fourth in the world, ahead of China’s Lin Shidong, solidifying his status as a rising star in table tennis.
Reviewing the Chinese men’s team’s performance, former Chinese national team player Zhou Yu commented, “I thought France was a tougher opponent than Japan. Every match from their No. 1 to No. 3 was challenging. If Wang Chuqin hadn’t won against [Simon] Gauzy early on, the pressure would have mounted. Felix Lebrun is already one of the strongest male players in this Olympic cycle.”