France is guaranteed a place in the Men’s Singles final at the European Championships in Ljubljana after Félix LEBRUN and Léo DE NODREST secured their semifinal places on Saturday. Top seed LEBRUN produced an outstanding performance to overcome Germany’s Patrick FRANZISKA in straight games, while DE NODREST continued his remarkable run with a seven-game victory over reigning European silver medallist Benedikt DUDA.
The two French players will meet in Sunday’s semifinal at Arena Stožice, with LEBRUN aiming for his first European Singles title and DE NODREST celebrating a breakthrough tournament that has already guaranteed him his first senior European Championships medal.
LEBRUN, 20, defeated FRANZISKA 4-0 (11-2, 11-8, 11-2, 11-8), delivering one of his most complete performances of the Championships.
The Frenchman took control immediately, allowing the experienced German just two points in the opening game. FRANZISKA offered greater resistance in the second, but LEBRUN maintained his aggressive approach and never allowed his opponent to establish a rhythm.
After another dominant game, LEBRUN completed the victory in four games, securing his first European Men’s Singles medal.
“I’m incredibly happy. I played a great match. I honestly didn’t expect to win like that. I’d been feeling good since I woke up this morning, and I said during the warm-up that I was feeling good. But to beat FRANZISKA 4-0 is something special,” said LEBRUN.
“It’s always difficult to beat him. He’s capable of defeating anyone on a good day, so I’m extremely happy. The adventure continues, and that’s fantastic.”
For LEBRUN, the performance was particularly encouraging following a short break from competition.
“As I’ve been saying since the beginning of the competition, the further you progress, the higher the level becomes, and I have to keep improving as the tournament goes on.
“I’m particularly happy because, since my short break, I think this is the first time I’ve played a truly complete match against a top player. That means a lot to me and gives me plenty of confidence for the rest of the tournament.”
The victory also carried additional significance following the disappointment LEBRUN experienced at the European Championships two years ago.
“Yes, of course. I had beaten FRANZISKA the last time we played, so it wasn’t really about him. But what happened two years ago wasn’t a pleasant experience, and winning a European Championships medal is a big achievement.
“I’m already very happy to be on the podium. After a match like this, naturally you start thinking about achieving even greater things. But first, I’m going to focus on the Men’s Doubles final and the Singles semifinal.”
Earlier on Saturday, Félix watched his older brother Alexis, the defending champion, lose to Germany’s Dang QIU in five games. However, he stressed that the result was far from unexpected given the quality of the opposition.
“I wouldn’t describe it as a warning when you lose to Dang QIU. He’s around No. 10 in the world and Alexis is around No. 8. You’re talking about two players at an incredibly high level.
“Of course, I think Alexis is hugely disappointed, and I was sad too when I watched the match. But at the same time, I wouldn’t say the result was a huge surprise. Perhaps Alexis was a slight favourite, but there wasn’t much between them. These things can happen.
“Dang QIU played an incredible match.
“I’m sure Alexis will now focus on the Men’s Doubles final. If we can manage to defend the title we won two years ago, I think it would still make this an incredible European Championships for him.”
Félix and Alexis will face Sweden’s Anton KÄLLBERG and Kristian KARLSSON in Saturday evening’s Men’s Doubles final, with the French brothers attempting to retain the title they won in Linz in 2024.
However, Félix also has his sights firmly set on the European Singles crown.
“I think we all want to achieve everything we possibly can in life. Of course, this is a title that means a great deal to me. For every table tennis player, the European Championships is a historic competition.
“I’m 100 per cent focused on trying to achieve that goal. If I don’t manage it, it’s not the end of the world, but we’re doing everything we can to give ourselves the best possible chance.”
FRANZISKA, 34, leaves the Singles competition with an outstanding European record that includes Men’s Doubles gold in Budapest in 2016 and four European Team titles, won in 2013, 2017, 2019 and 2021. He also claimed Men’s Singles, Men’s Doubles and Mixed Doubles bronze in Alicante in 2018, Mixed Doubles bronze in Linz in 2024 and Team bronze in Zadar in 2025.
The German won the Europe Top 16 in 2021 and collected bronze in 2022 and 2025. His achievements also include European Games gold medals in Team and Mixed Doubles in Minsk in 2019 and another Team title in Kraków-Małopolska in 2023, alongside Olympic Team silver in Tokyo and multiple World Championships medals.
In the other quarterfinal, Léo DE NODREST produced another outstanding performance to overcome Germany’s Benedikt DUDA 4-3 (11-5, 11-3, 4-11, 3-11, 11-6, 4-11, 11-7).
The Frenchman, seeded No. 67, had already caused one of the biggest surprises of the Championships by eliminating Slovenian home favourite Darko JORGIC in Friday’s Round of 16.
Against DUDA, the reigning European Men’s Singles silver medallist, DE NODREST made a flying start, taking the opening two games 11-5 and 11-3.
The experienced German responded strongly, winning the next two games to level the match. DE NODREST regained the advantage in the fifth, but DUDA forced a deciding game with an 11-4 victory in the sixth.
The Frenchman held his nerve in the seventh, winning 11-7 to complete another memorable victory and secure his first senior European Championships medal.
“It’s crazy. Absolutely crazy. I’m really struggling to find the words,” said DE NODREST.
“To be able to perform at this level at the European Championships is something extraordinary. I didn’t arrive here with a great deal of confidence. In my last two tournaments, I lost in the opening round both times.
“So to come here and produce this level of table tennis, and to reach such a high peak in my performance at exactly the right moment, is simply incredible.
“I’m extremely satisfied with the way I’m playing.”
What makes DE NODREST’s achievement particularly remarkable is his ability to reproduce his highest level against a succession of established international opponents.
“I’ve had moments before when I managed to win matches that nobody expected me to win. But to keep doing it, match after match, is something that surprises even me.
“I’m just taking things as they come and enjoying every moment. I’m incredibly happy with what I’m producing on the table. I’m really having a great time.”
Asked whether his performances in Ljubljana could represent a turning point in his career, the Frenchman preferred not to look too far ahead.
“I’m not asking myself that question. We’ve changed a few small things in my daily routine. Maybe that’s made a difference, maybe it hasn’t. I honestly don’t know.
“I’m not trying to analyse it too much. I’m simply accepting this level of performance as it comes and enjoying it.
“More than anything, I’m just proud of myself.”
DE NODREST now faces the biggest challenge of his remarkable campaign, with top seed Félix LEBRUN standing between him and a place in the European final.
“Of course, to face Félix at such an advanced stage of the tournament is incredible.
“I’m going to continue preparing exactly as I have for every other match.
“Winning a European Championships medal is something exceptional. I never imagined in my life that I would achieve this.
“But now the medal is there. We’ll see what colour it turns out to be. It’s just unbelievable.”
DUDA, 32, arrived in Ljubljana as the reigning European Men’s Singles silver medallist after reaching the final in Linz in 2024.
He won European Team gold with Germany in Nantes in 2019 and Cluj-Napoca in 2021, followed by Team silver in Malmö in 2023 and bronze in Zadar in 2025. Earlier this year, he also claimed bronze at the Europe Top 16.
