Who is Félix Lebrun?

Félix Lebrun is a 19-year-old French table tennis player, currently ranked fifth in the world, who won his first career Grand Smash title.

What is a Grand Smash in table tennis?

A Grand Smash is the highest level of tournament in table tennis, equivalent to a Grand Slam in tennis.

Did Lebrun also win the doubles title?

Yes, the day before, he won the doubles title with his older brother Alexis, marking their second joint Grand Smash trophy.

Tennis

Félix Lebrun Makes Table Tennis History at 19

Q: Who did Lebrun beat in the final?

In the final in Malmö, he defeated Japan's Tomokazu Harimoto, the world No. 4, with a score of 4-1 in sets.

T.E. · Prije 11h | 2 min

The young Frenchman became the first French winner of a Grand Smash, the table tennis equivalent of a Grand Slam, defeating Japan's Tomokazu Harimoto in the final in Malmö.

Summary

Félix Lebrun (19) won his first career Grand Smash title in Malmö, becoming the first French player to claim the title.
In the final, he defeated Japan's Tomokazu Harimoto 4-1 in sets after 33 minutes of play.
A day earlier, Lebrun won the doubles title with his brother Alexis, marking their second joint Grand Smash trophy.

Make 5MIN.hr a preferred source

Nineteen-year-old French table tennis player Félix Lebrun won his first career Grand Smash title on Sunday, August 16, 2026. In the final held in Malmö, Sweden, he defeated Japan's Tomokazu Harimoto, the world No. 4, with a score of 11-5, 11-8, 5-11, 11-9, 11-9 after just 33 minutes of play, according to France Info.

This is the first time a French player has won a tournament of this level, the equivalent of a Grand Slam in tennis. Lebrun, ranked fifth in the world, reached the title after losing the Grand Smash final in Beijing in October 2025 to China's world No. 1, Wang Chuqin.

A Perfect Start and Revenge for Two Defeats

Harimoto had beaten Lebrun in their two previous encounters, in the quarterfinals of the WTT Finals in December 2025 and at the tournament in Doha in January 2026. This time, Lebrun opened the match furiously, taking an 8-1 lead in the first set. Although he lost the third set, he secured the win with solid play in the fourth and fifth sets.

"I'm really happy with the level of play, carrying European table tennis alongside Truls Moregard, last year's winner. We'll celebrate, take a few days off, and then get back to training. Thanks to the fans, it's incredible," Lebrun told the organization's microphone after the match.

A Weekend to Remember and Family Success

This title is the culmination of an outstanding weekend for the player from Montpellier. The day before, on Saturday, August 15, he won the doubles title with his older brother Alexis. The French duo defeated defending champions Wong Chun Ting and Chan Baldwin with a score of 11-7, 11-8, 14-12.

This is their second joint Grand Smash title, following their victory in Singapore on February 28, 2026. Félix Lebrun's coach is Nathanaël Molin.