PETALING JAYA: Men’s singles shuttler Alex Lanier’s (pic) good run ended in the Denmark Open but he can walk tall.
The 19-year-old went down 16-21, 13-21 to Koki Watanabe of Japan in the semi-finals at the Jyske Bank Arena in Odense on Saturday.
For reaching the semis, the world No. 21 is expected to move up four rungs in the world ranking to 17.
According to Badzine France, he will be the first Frenchman to be at that position for the first time.
He will also take over the top spot as the No. 1 ranked French player, overtaking world number 19 Toma Junior Popov.
With many years ahead of his, Lanier can only get better.
The youngster, who started the year by competing in International Challenge tournaments, has reached a higher level in just a short amount of time.
Lanier created history by becoming the first Frenchman to win a World Tour Super 750 title when he captured the Japan Open title in August.
“I’ve improved a lot and all the work I’ve done has been good,” Lanier told the Badminton World Federation (BWF).
“I’m proud of the build-up phase and if I take in the whole picture, it’s been a good year but it’s not over yet.”
Meanwhile, Watanabe made it into his maiden 750 final and will take on homester Anders Antonsen for the title.
Antonsen defeated another Japanese Kenta Nishimoto 21-15, 21-14 to book his spot in the title match.
In the mixed doubles, China’s Feng Yanzhe-Huang Dongping captured the title after a hard fought 15-21, 21-18, 21-17 win over world No. 3 teammates Jiang Zhenbang-Wei Yaxin.
A day earlier, Yanzhe-Dongping had narrowly defeated Hong Kong’s Tang Chun Man-Tse Ying Suet 21-23, 21-19, 21-19 in another close match.
The world No. 2 duo have now won their fourth World Tour title this year after they also clinched the French, China and Arctic Opens.
SEMI-FINAL RESULTS
Men’s singles: Koki Watanabe (Jpn) bt Alex Lanier (Fra) 21-16, 21-13; Anders Antonsen (Den) bt Kenta Nishimoto (Jpn) 21-15, 21-14.
Men’s doubles: Liang Weikeng-Wang Chang (Chn) bt Chen Boyang-Liu Yi (Chn) 21-17, 21-14; Kim Astrup-Anders Skaarup Rasmussen (Den) bt Fajar Alfian-Rian Ardianto (Ina) 22-20, 18-21, 21-11.
Women’s doubles: Liu Shengshu-Tan Ning (Chn) bt Nami Matsuyama-Chiharu Shida (Jpn) 21-14, 21-16.
