Another giant has fallen in Doha. World No.139 Gaia MONFARDINI produced one of the biggest shocks of the ITTF World Table Tennis Championships Finals 2025, overcoming the vastly more experienced No.28 seed Doo Hoi Kem in a dramatic seven-game encounter: 4-3 (11-9, 11-8, 9-11, 4-11, 7-11, 11-6, 11-7). Facing DOO for the first time, MONFARDINI showed no signs of intimidation, taking the opening two games with fearless, high-risk play. But the Hong Kong star found her footing and stormed back with three straight wins, appearing to have turned the tide. Backed into a corner, MONFARDINI refused to back down. Digging deep, she took the sixth game and raced into a commanding lead in the decider, eventually sealing the upset with relentless composure. Still shaking moments after the match, the Italian was visibly emotional: “I’m not sure what to say anymore. It’s crazy. I knew I was playing well against her, but I didn’t expect this, even when I was leading. I never dared to think that I could win this.” She added: “This win confirms that I can trust myself, as there have been many times I doubted. Sometimes it’s difficult to stay strong. This is table tennis—it’s a technical game, but in the end, it becomes a mind game. You’re playing against yourself.” With her focus still sharp despite the whirlwind moment, MONFARDINI is already looking ahead, albeit cautiously, to her next match against SHIN Yubin: “I’m not going to think too much. It doesn’t matter if I’m behind or in front—I’m just going point by point.”

French table tennis star Alexis LEBRUN has officially withdrawn from the singles competition at the ITTF World Table Tennis Championships Finals 2025 in Doha. Still in recovery from a fractured hand, the 21-year-old made the decision in consultation with the French team’s medical staff. LEBRUN, who had comfortably defeated Togo’s Kokou Fanny 4-0 in the opening round, was scheduled to face Yen-Chun Lin in the round of 64 on Tuesday. However, due to the possibility of playing two matches in one day, doctors advised against it. In a message to his fans on Instagram, LEBRUN shared the update: “Unfortunately, I won’t be playing singles today. I haven’t received medical clearance to play two matches in the same day, so I’m withdrawing from the singles draw. But I’ll give everything to go as far as possible with Félix in doubles. VAMOS!” The LEBRUN brothers have made strong progress in men’s doubles, advancing to the round of 16 after wins against pairs from Spain and Iran. Their next challenge will be against Sweden’s Olympic silver medallists Truls MÖREGÅRDH and Anton KÄLLBERG. “Third day done! We’re pushing further in doubles with Félix ,” Alexis added in his post. “The next match will be against the Swedes… Time and date will be announced soon.” Having already claimed team bronze at Paris 2024 and team silver at the 2024 World Championships, the LEBRUN brothers remain one of France’s brightest hopes on the global stage.

The surprises keep rolling in on Day 3 of the ITTF World Championships Finals Doha 2025, with Croatia’s Lea RAKOVAC pulling off one of the most resounding wins of the tournament so far. Facing Japan’s Miu HIRANO, a former World Championships bronze medallist, RAKOVAC delivered a commanding 4-0 victory (11-1, 11-1, 11-2, 11-9) in the Round of 64. Ranked World No.137 and over a hundred places below her opponent, RAKOVAC entered the match as a clear underdog. But from the very first point, she seized control with confident and calculated play. The Croatian not only maintained pressure throughout but dismantled Hirano’s rhythm with her aggressive pace and tactical awareness. “I prepared my tactics well, and I had a good warm-up. I just wanted to play my game,” said RAKOVAC after the match. “And as usual, as with every match, I always have respect against everybody. It doesn’t matter which player I play against. But today, my tactic was good. I was better and faster. Table tennis is a very complex sport. So, my expectations are always the same, which is every single day, especially when I come to the tournament, I prepare myself earlier, and in this kind of championships, like World Championships, I just try to enjoy the match and fight hard.” The result marks an early and unexpected departure for HIRANO, who claimed bronze in 2017 and was widely expected to advance deep into the draw once again. Lea RAKOVAC was once considered one of Croatia’s brightest table tennis prospects. Back in 2017, however, she made the surprising decision to step away from the sport at the height of her early career—a move that stunned many in the national table tennis community, especially given the trajectory she was on.As a junior, she had won the prestigious Top 10 tournament featuring Europe’s best players, finishing undefeated with nine wins. She was also a European silver medallist in singles and a European champion in mixed doubles alongside Tomislav PUCAR. In addition she played at the 2014 Summer Youth Olympics. Everything pointed to a bright future—until she suddenly said, “Enough.” She stepped away completely, staying active with other sports like badminton, squash, and padel, but table tennis was off the table—literally—for nearly four years. Her return came unexpectedly, just as her exit had. During the COVID-19 pandemic, RAKOVAC found herself with more time and space to reflect. In 2021, she signed with Croatian club Aquaestil and began a determined comeback. In 2023 RAKOVAC has also returned to the national team.

Tom JARVIS delivered one of the standout performances of the ITTF World Championships Finals Doha 2025, pulling off the biggest upset of the tournament so far with a dramatic 4-3 victory over No.10 seed Dang QIU (11-9, 11-9, 11-8, 9-11, 1-11, 6-11, 11-8). Tom JARVIS: “I’ve been watching Dang QIU for years. He’s a European champion and is someone all of us from Europe look up to, and you see the hard work he puts in. I don’t really know how to go into these matches. I had a lot of chat with my coaches and the sports psychologist, just trying not to think about who I’m playing and just trying and do what I can do, and only focus on that, and then whatever happens, happens. My heart was in my throat at 3-0, and then I got smacked around for two sets. But yeah, to come back strong in the seventh, it was amazing. I knew I just had to try and find what had been working so well in the first three games. And I knew that if I played my highest quality, then he would have problems. So, I was only trying to think about that and trying to deliver. It has been an absolute dream. I’ve been watching the World Championship since like 2009. I used to sit with my brother watching all the matches, and to be part of this is amazing. Thank you for your support. I was just a little kid from Skegness. I picked up the sport and fell in love with it. If I can do it, you can too.” Coming into the match as a clear underdog, JARVIS faced a major challenge in QIU, 2022 European champion from Munich. But from the very start, it was JARVIS who dictated the pace. With aggressive and fearless play, he raced to a commanding 10-3 lead in the first game. Although QIU responded with a flurry of points to narrow the gap to 10-9, JARVIS held his nerve to secure the opener. Currently ranked World No.143, the Englishman seemed inspired by the big stage. With a combination of smart tactics and relentless energy, he claimed the next two games, edging ever closer to a stunning upset. QIU, however, wasn’t done yet. Drawing on his experience and resilience, he mounted a comeback in the fourth game and continued his charge to win the fifth and sixth in dominant fashion, completely flipping the momentum. With the match tied at 3-3, it all came down to a decisive final game. Refusing to let the momentum slip away for good, JARVIS reset mentally, brought renewed intensity to the table, and played his best table tennis of the match just when it mattered most. With that final push, JARVIS sealed an unforgettable win.

Germany’s most prominent player is out of the tournament: Dimitrij OVTCHAROV was forced to withdraw from the Individual World Championships in Doha due to injury. Following an unsuccessful doubles test match alongside Patrick FRANZISKA—which ended in a 0–3 loss to Australian outsiders Hwan BAE and Aditya SAREEN—the 36-year-old former world No. 1 canceled his singles participation. His first-round opponent, Austria’s Daniel HABESOHN, advanced to the Round of 64 at the Lusail Sports Arena without playing. “I’m extremely disappointed because, as always, I had prepared well,” said OVTCHAROV. A disc problem radiating into his arm and wrist severely limited his mobility: “That’s just not enough to be competitive at a World Championship.” His withdrawal is a major blow for the five-time World Championship medalist, who, together with FRANZISKA, claimed Germany’s only medal (bronze) at the 2023 World Championships in Durban.

Day 2 of the ITTF World Table Tennis Championships Finals Doha 2025 nearly delivered a major upset in the Men’s Doubles draw, as top-seeded French duo Alexis and Félix LEBRUN were pushed to the brink by Spain’s Juan PEREZ and Daniel BERZOSA, before narrowly avoiding elimination (7-11, 5-11, 11-4, 11-4, 11-7). Reigning European champions and recent winners of the WTT Finals Fukuoka, the LEBRUN brothers entered the tournament as strong favourites to contend for gold. However, their title campaign began with a serious reality check. The young Spanish pair, well aware of the challenge before them, rose to the occasion with fearless play and aggressive tactics. Dominating the opening two games, PEREZ and BERZOSA stunned the crowd at Lusail Arena, momentarily placing the French stars on the edge of a first-round exit. With momentum firmly against them, Alexis and Félix had no margin for error. Displaying the resilience of champions, they regrouped in the third game and began to find their rhythm. Once the momentum shifted, they tightened their grip on the match, taking the fourth and then closing out the decider with confidence to complete the comeback and move into the next round. There was clear relief in their celebrations — the LEBRUNS had survived a massive scare and will now shift focus to their next opponents: Benyamin FARAJI and Amirmahdi KESHAVARZI. Alexis LEBRUN: “I hadn’t played a match in a long time, so it was not easy to start and they also played very well in the second game, they destroyed us. We talked with our coach and we said, “okay, we need to accept that they play good and fight with this,” and we started to play better and better. I think we played three good games after, and I’m very happy about this.” Felix LEBRUN: “We were pushing each other to stay in the match, to stay focused. We know it’s not easy to finish a match when we are close to making a big performance, so we were just thinking about it game by game and we would see what happens.” However in Men’s Doubles, there was a surprise exit for Dimitrij OVTCHAROV and Patrick FRANZISKA, who were knocked out by the inspired Australian pairing of Hwan BAE and Aditya SAREEN. The Aussies produced a high-energy performance, winning 3-0 (11-6, 11-9, 14-12) and claiming one of the most notable upsets of the day. Sweden’s Mattias FALCK advanced to the Round of 64 after a hard-fought 4-3 victory over Argentina’s Santiago LORENZO (14-12, 11-8, 11-3, 2-11, 10-12, 7-11, 11-3). “The first game was a bit up and down, we were both nervous. I didn’t feel great at the start, but still managed to lead 3-0. Then he changed his serve and it threw me off. I told myself I had to be proud no matter what—go for it, play my game, and if I lose, at least I gave everything,” said FALCK. “I’m happy to be here for another World Championships. I had good tournaments recently, especially in Tunis, and I’m feeling optimistic. The level is so close now. Next, I face DAESONG, and if I win, FRANZISKA is waiting in the third round. Plus, in doubles with Kristian KARLSSON, we’re aiming for a medal.” France’s Simon GAUZY had a convincing start with a 4-0 win over Egypt’s Mahmoud HELMY (11-6, 11-6, 11-2, 11-6). “You’re always a little nervous at the World Championships, no matter how many you’ve played. So I’m very pleased with how I performed today,” said GAUZY. “I left Durban last time with regrets. I was playing well but couldn’t close out my second-round match. But now, I’ve been playing at a high level for several months. Whether it’s CHAN or LIND next, it’s going to be tough. I’ve beaten Anders before, but also lost to him—so it’s all about focus. I just want to enjoy each round and give my best.” In Women’s Singles Hana MATELOVA of Czechia defeats Dina MESHREF of Egypt 4-0 (11-7, 11-3, 11-3, 11-7) in Women’s Singles, Round of 128 “We played at the Star Contender a year ago, and she completely dominated me. But today, it was the other way around. This was our rematch, and I think I was more aggressive and active from the start. I played with a lot of intensity, especially on serve and receive and that made the difference today. I really want to enjoy this victory. It’s my last World Championships, so I want to go as far as I possibly can. Tomorrow, we have the doubles as well, and I’m looking forward to that next challenge.”

The second day of play at the ITTF World Table Tennis Championships Finals in Doha saw a strong start from Charlotte LUTZ of France. Ranked No. 92 in the world, LUTZ came from two games down to defeat Korea’s Eunhye LEE (World No. 52) 4-2 (7-11, 8-11, 11-9, 11-8, 12-10, 11-8). European champion Sofia POLCANOVA of Austria, seeded No. 12, overcame Orawan PARANANG of Thailand in six games. In the Round of 64, she will face Andreea DRAGOMAN of Romania, who defeated another Thai representative, Jinnipa PARANANG, in the opening round. Germany’s Annett KAUFMANN made a dominant start to her Women’s Singles campaign, cruising past NG Wing Lam of Hong Kong in straight games. “I go to the table with confidence and give my best,” said KAUFMANN, looking ahead to her upcoming clash with China’s Chen Xingtong. “I believe I can cause problems for the world No. 3.” Despite ongoing foot issues, KAUFMANN stayed focused and also impressed in doubles alongside Xiaona SHAN, defeating the Canadian pair Ivy LAO / Mo ZHANG. “We trained together before the Olympics, but this is our first tournament as a pair. Overall, we played well,” commented SHAN. KAUFMANN added: “My foot still hurts a bit, but our physios tape it up so well I barely notice it. We get along really well, and I trust Nana completely.” It was the opposite outcome for Germany’s Xiaona SHAN in singles. She lost to Turkey’s Sibel ALTINKAYA 3-4 (–5, 7, 7, 9, –9, –7, –4), despite leading 3:1 and 9:5 in the fifth game. Ioana SINGEORZAN of Romania overcame Audrey ZARIF of France in straight games. In the second round, she will meet No. 9 seed Yubin SHIN of Korea. In another all-European encounter, Giorgia PICCOLIN of Italy defeated Lilou MASSART of Belgium in straight games. Germany’s Sabine WINTER also advanced with a 4-0 win over Mariam ALHODABY. “I’m happy with the 4-0 win. My regular game worked well, although my anti-spin shots were a bit shaky. I’m looking forward to the next match,” said WINTER, who will face Hanitra RAHARIMANANA of Madagascar in the Round of 64. Jieni SHAO of Portugal defeated CHANG Li Sian of Malaysia 4-2 and will next face No. 7 seed Satsuki ODO of Japan. Poland’s Natalia BAJOR came through a 4-2 win over Singapore’s Li Qian SER. Two Serbian players also secured spots in the second round: Andrea TODOROVIC and Izabela LUPULESKU.

On the opening day of competition at the ITTF World Table Tennis Championships Finals Doha 2025, last week’s European Under 21 Men’s Singles runner-up, Iulian CHIRITA of Romania, made a confident performance on the global stage. Ranked 88th in the world, CHIRITA upset world No. 38 Finn LUU of Australia in straight games to reach the second round (12-10, 11-3, 11-8, 11-7). “It was a tough match because we know each other quite well,” said CHIRITA. “I tried to focus and stick to my game plan from the beginning, and it worked well. Even when I was ahead, he showed great mentality and kept pushing, but I stayed focused on executing my tactics.” France’s Felix LEBRUN, seeded sixth, also advanced with a commanding 4-0 win over Slovakia’s Lubomir PISTEJ (11-7, 11-5, 11-9, 11-8). “It doesn’t really matter if I win 4-0, 4-1, or 4-2 — the goal was simply to reach the second round, and I’m happy to have done that,” said LEBRUN. “We had a great 10-day training camp with the French team before this, which was very valuable since it’s hard to align schedules. I also played well at WTT Contender Tunis 2025 just before, so I’m feeling confident about my form. Let’s see what happens next.” Germany’s Dang QIU needed all seven games to overcome Filip ZELJKO of Croatia, coming back from a 4-6 deficit in the decider to win. His doubles partner Benedikt DUDA also faced a tough start, losing the first game against Ecuador’s Alberto MIÑO, but responded well to claim victory in five. The win was particularly meaningful for DUDA, who had suffered a first-round exit to ZELJKO two years ago at the World Championships in Durban. “It was a tough battle with myself,” DUDA reflected. Slovenia’s Darko JORGIC, seeded 11th, progressed to the round of 64 with a straight-sets win over Madagascar’s Fabio RAKOTOARIMANANA (11-4, 12-10, 11-6, 11-4). There were also strong performances from several other European players. Tomislav PUCAR of Croatia defeated Izaac QUEK of Singapore, while Romania’s Eduard IONESCU overcame Aly GHALLAB of Egypt. Austria’s Robert GARDOS prevailed against Belgium’s Cedric NUYTINCK, Sweden’s Kristian KARLSSON secured a win over Lubomir JANCARIK of Czechia, and England’s Tom JARVIS defeated Benedek OLAH of Finland. “He’s a very tricky player with a lot of quality. If you’re not focused, he can make it very tough,” said JARVIS. “I lost a close match to him at the end of last year, so I reviewed that game carefully with my coach, created a new game plan, and prepared well. I’m trying not to focus on results — just on executing the plan and performing at my best. If that leads to a win, great. Then it’s on to the next one.” Spain’s Alvaro ROBLES also impressed with a 4-2 win over Croatia’s Andrej GACINA. “I think I played quite well today. I knew it would be a tough match. I’ve known Andrej for a long time — he was one of the players I looked up to when I moved to Germany to turn professional. It’s a great honour to face him and to come away with the win,” said ROBLES.