Felix Lebrun advances to China Smash round of 16

French table tennis player Felix Lebrun, the top seed at the China Smash in Beijing, has advanced to the round of 16 after defeating compatriot Flavien Coton in four sets (9-11, 14-12, 11-9, 11-4). Notably, Lebrun is competing using contact lenses rather than his signature glasses. A victory in this tournament, which is considered the equivalent of a Grand Slam in table tennis, could potentially see him ascend to the number one spot in the world rankings.

Lebrun is scheduled to face Tomislav Pucar, ranked 30th in the world, in the next round. His brother, Alexis Lebrun, is also competing in Beijing. Alexis, currently ranked ninth in the world, has previously defeated Felix in competition and holds several European titles. The brothers are also competing together in the mixed doubles category, where they hold the number one world ranking.