European Youth Championships | 2 Aug 2021

Felix LEBRUN crowned champion in Under 15 Singles

Felix LEBRUN climbed the highest step at the medal rostrum at the Singles Doubles and Team's Under 15 Boys Events at the GAZPROM European Youth Championships in Varazdin. At the very last one final, in Boys Singles he beat Iulian CHIRITA of Romania. Milosz REDZIMSKI of Poland and Horia Stefan URSUT of Romania won bronze.

Felix LEBRUN beat Milosz REDZIMSKI of Poland on his way to the final. In the penultimate stage, REDZIMSKI got a better start, but after opening game, LEBRUN was in control.

“ The beginning of the match was difficult, I had the lead in the opening game 8:2, but I lost 11:8.I improved my service game in the next game. REDZIMSKI could not follow the change. I think my service was the key to win this match. At the beginning of the tournament I was impressed with the atmosphere, and with the European Championship and I did not provide games like now,“ admitted LEBRUN.

In all-Romanian semi final CHIRITA overcame Horia Stefan URSUT.

“It is never easy to play against teammate. It is bitter-sweet taste at the end,” said CHIRITA.

In the quarterfinal CHIRITA overcame Belgiums's Tom CLOSSET. Tom came close in third and fourth game but CHIRITA was already in fast lane.

“I had a right feeling for the game. All fist perfectly, despite very good performance despite CLOSSET's good performance,” said CHIRITA.

Unlike CHIRITA, his teammate Horia Stefan URSUT was stretched to full distance before he prevailed against Russia's Aleksei SAMOKHIN.

“At 3:3 I 4:6 down and I managed to recover. It was psychologically hard for my adversary and he could not return,” said URSUT.

The matches in the lower half of the draw failed to produce any drama. Milosz REDZIMSKI overcame Nikon SHUTOV of Belarus.

“This was the easiest match for me at the tournament, I do not mind lack of drama at all,” smiled REDZIMSKI.

Felix LEBRUN repeated the scenario from the Team's Event. He beat Dragos Alexandru BUJOR of Romania.

“I already beat him once here and I knew what to do. It was important to took the control in the early stage of the match. I did today and I faced no problems in the match,:” said LEBRUN.

Final

Iulian CHIRITA (Romania) - Felix LEBRUN (France) 1:4 (6:11, 2:11, 11:8, 5:11, 4:11)

Semi finals

Iulian CHIRITA (Romania) - Horia Stefan URSUT (Romania) 4:0 (13:11, 11:4, 11:8, 11:5)

Felix LEBRUN (France) - Milosz REDZIMSKI (Poland) 4:1 (8:11, 11:8, 11:8, 11:5, 12:10)

Quarterfinals

Iulian CHIRITA (Romania) - Tom CLOSSET (Belgium) (11:3, 11:1, 11:9, 11:9)

Aleksei SAMOKHIN (Russia) - Horia Stefan URSUT (Romania) 3:4 (5:11, 11:5, 11:8, 3:11, 11:5, 9:11, 7:11)

Dragos Alexandru BUJOR (Romnia) – Felix LEBRUN (France) 0:4 (7:11, 2:11, 8:11, 7:11)

Milosz REDZIMSKI (Poland) – Nikon SHUTOV (Belarus) 4:0 (11:6, 11:2, 11:1, 11:5)