Shock upset! WTT Montpellier Champions Report! Quarterfinals decided, Tomokazu Harimoto eliminated 2-3 after a comeback loss

On November 1st, Beijing time, the men’s singles round of 16 at the WTT Montpellier Champions finished. In the last match, Japanese ace Tomokazu Harimoto faced Lebrun in a thrilling contest. Despite holding a commanding 2-0 lead, Harimoto lost three straight games to be overturned 2-3, a shocking upset that denied him a quarterfinal spot. After the quarterfinalists were decided, the matchups were set: Lebrun vs. Darko, Teru Matsushima against French veteran Simon Gauzy, Lee Sangsu and Jang Woojin locked in an all-Korean battle guaranteeing one semifinalist, and Moregard facing off against penhold specialist Qiu Dang!

With China not sending their top players to this event, foreign players had a prime chance to contend for the title, including Tomokazu Harimoto. Currently ranked fourth globally, Harimoto won the Yokohama tournament this season. In the round of 16, he faced French veteran Lebrun, ranked 13th worldwide and a tough opponent. Harimoto needed to prepare for a fierce fight, especially since he has historically struggled against European players!

The match started with Lebrun quickly finding his rhythm, scoring from multiple angles to build a large lead. Unexpectedly, he collapsed as Harimoto launched a furious comeback, gradually closing the gap and taking the first game 11-9. In the second game, Lebrun reached game point but lost four consecutive points to fall 10-12, putting Harimoto ahead 2-0. Crucially, Lebrun dominated the third game with an 11-4 win to stay alive. The fourth game was fiercely contested, with Lebrun holding firm under pressure to win 12-10, pushing the match to a decider. In the final game, Harimoto built a big lead at 10-6 and earned match point, but then suddenly faltered, allowing Lebrun to score six straight points and clinch the match 3-2 in a stunning comeback!

This match was truly unbelievable. Harimoto held a commanding position but lost three straight games to suffer a shocking reversal. With Chinese players eliminated and Hugo also out, no Asian player managed to reach the title, which is quite disheartening. The quarterfinal lineup includes two Korean players, one Japanese, and five Europeans!

Written by / Sports Novel