It has already been more than three years, since their title at the Swiss Open in Basel on March 7, 2021, that Thom Gicquel (Red Star Mulhouse) and Delphine Delrue (Chambly) have not added their name to the list of winners of a World Tour tournament. . Those who have since experienced continental recognition by becoming European champions last spring in Saarbrücken will have the opportunity this Sunday to return to victory on the world circuit at the Japan Masters (Super 500) in Kumamoto.
The five-time champions of France, former world No. 5 and now 22esindeed brilliantly qualified for the final at dawn on Saturday by signing their fourth success in two sets in four days. They only needed 39 minutes to pin down their fourth Asian pair of the week, the Chinese Guo Xin Wa and Chen Fang Hui, 17.es (21-14, 21-11), winners in 2024 of a Super 500, in Thailand in May, and two Super 300s, in Macau in September and in South Korea last week. Despite a surge from the latter at the start of the second round (4-7), the tricolors quickly regained control of the game by inflicting an 8-0 (12-7) on them. Then they didn't loosen the grip again.
Puavaranukroh, an old acquaintance
Thom Gicquel and Delphine Delrue, who had not played in a World Tour final since their defeat at the China Open (Super 1000) in September 2023, will try to win their third crown on Sunday, after the Orléans Masters (Super 100) in 2019 and, therefore, the Swiss Open in 2021. To achieve this, they will have to get rid of a Thai pair formed as soon as the Paris Olympic Games and whose modest ranking (201e) does not reflect the value in any way.
Dechapol Puavaranukroh, 2021 world champion and former world No. 1 with Sapsiree Taerattanachai, whom the French internationals have beaten ''only'' twice in six confrontations, is now teaming up with Supissara Paewsampran. During their semi-final on Saturday, the “Thai” duo battled 1h04' to overcome Malaysians Goh Soon Huat and Lai Shevon Jemie, 10es and No. 3 seeds (18-21, 22-20, 21-14).
And as, given the time difference with the Land of the Rising Sun, you have to get up early – or go to bed late -, here, to follow the tribulations of Thom Gicquel and Delphine Delrue among the Japanese, the final of this mixed will begin at 3 French hours next night.
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