Since the start of the WTT Finals in Fukuoka, Japan, Félix and Alexis Lebrun have celebrated each of their doubles victories with a celebration. Dragon Ball Z, sumo… Everything is well prepared and thought out by the two brothers, who hope to be able to do it again this Saturday after the grand final (at 12:45 p.m. on RMC Sport).
Thursday, men's doubles quarter-final against a Japanese pair, Félix and Alexis won in four sets. Once the match point is over, the two brothers approach each other to do their usual check, then Félix launches into a gesture reminiscent of Dragon Ball Z, the kamehameha. But, unfortunately, the celebration was a failure… “It was Alexis who missed it. We said something and in fact he forgot, I think. So, it's a series of failed celebrations, but I prefer to miss it rather than the matches”, smiles Félix at the end of the meeting. And indeed, Alexis had forgotten what he should do. Then he started jumping and puffing out his chest towards his little brother. This is their usual celebration.
These celebrations have become a real ritual, something really thought through and thought out by the players. Even the other French pairs are getting into it. Like Esteban Dorr and Florian Bourrassaud. After their victory in the quarter-final of the WTT Finals in Japan, the two tricolors successfully attempted their “merger”. Reference here also to Dragon Ball Z. It must be said that the two had carefully reviewed this gesture in their hotel room.
A nod to sumos
For the semi-final, Franco-French poster between Lebrun-Lebrun and Dorr-Bourrassaud. And obviously, the winner's celebration was eagerly awaited. Without trembling, Félix and Alexis won three sets to zero. And in front of a won over Japanese audience, the brothers mimed sumos in celebration. “We took a little more time to think ahead,” smiles Félix. “As we are in Japan, we like Japanese culture. Esteban and Florian had the merger on Thursday. And of course we talked about it and it made us love it. We said to ourselves that if we won we would give a little nod to the sumos because there is a tournament not far from here, so it’s true that it made us laugh a little and enjoy doing that a little,” adds Alexis.
Together, in the evenings before matches, they discuss and think about it. “We do this in the bedroom, playing Fifa, laughing. We say to ourselves: 'what could we do?'. It depends on our desires and the country. Here, we wanted to do something corresponding to Japan', explains Félix, Olympic medalist So, for their doubles grand final at the WTT Finals, the two brothers, in the event of victory, would have to imagine something new.
“In ping, it's good that there are different things. We are dominated by the Chinese who are more closed than us about celebrations, annoyances and emotions so it's cool for the sport and us We're happy to do it. It's also to please people. It's nice to see that the Japanese are surprised. Tomorrow (this Saturday), if we win, it will be an extraordinary title so it will have to be something good. “, says Felix. This last celebration, if we follow their logic, will once again be a reference to Japanese culture.
Léna Marjak, Fukuoka (Japan)