FULL MATCH | Felix Lebrun vs Hugo Calderano | MS QF | #WTTIncheon 2024

The elephant in the room of course, stylistically, both right-handers, but Felix Lebrun is a penholder and he's the very, very best player in the world currently with that grip. Quality push down the line. Edelmano has beastly power when he hits the ball, more than Felix. It's just a case of how he can get those into play. How he gets out the serve receive, how he maintains distance, gives himself space and time. Can't prevent the Felix Lebrun third ball. Tries the slap, wasn't that far away? Sorry mate, one of those against Alexey yesterday. Highlight player Calderano, to say the least. Very, very marketable man. Jack of all trades. He's disguised with the serve, ended up being more of a shovel action. That time Felix can't make his RPB flick. Nothing out of the ordinary so far. Points flip. There it is. Blink and you miss it. Illustration of what Calderano can do. Tries it again. No deja vu. Felix will be thankful for that. The top half of the bracket we're in here. So the winner of this will face the winner of Fan Zhendong who plays Harimoto a little bit later. That's the majority of the world's best here. Basically all of them apart from Wang Chuqin. Neither of these two have beaten before. A cushion of two. There's his brother Alexey who beat him only last week at the French National Championship finals. For the third time in a row. As well as some of the top Chinese. He seems to be the only player Felix can beat at the moment. Sure he will at some point. Might just be a big brother thing. Not letting you have it yet. Kind of a rivalry. Calderano with a couple of points on the bounce. Both of Felix serves there. So much backspin on this push. See how Felix really digs into it. Brilliant technique. Think of a push as a more passive stroke but use it aggressively. If it's surprising deep backspin low over the net. Very tricky to get back. Any kind of serious venom. Tried to rifle it. On the switch there. Lebrun managing to counter those. It's a fortune. I'll take that Calderano. Went for a long serve right into backhand. Misses it. Should be very costly for Lebrun there. Missing that serve. This pivotal stage. Any stage can be pivotal. In terms of where floodgates can open. But Calderano here with two serves at 8-0. Slings it. Whistles past Lebrun. Pivots and an instant Calderano. Athletic stroke. Coming from the thrill from Brazil. A lone ranger at this level. Clutch. Comes back. And we're all square. Right on the purple line. Seriously under the cosh. Lebrun with two serves at 9-0. The receive. Look at that reaction. Meant that didn't he? Peeking through the grass. Calderano with a game point. And he takes it. Lebrun already very frustrated. No biggie. Another miss serve. The precision that pros have to go for to prevent instant punishment means that it's possible for them to miss serves. Let's talk about the implications of this match. Calderano coming off a disappointing Singapore smash. Felix delivering again there but losing to Wang Chi Chin. But two of these players are serious Olympic hopefuls. They both believe they can win at least a bronze medal in Paris. It's changed. Used to be a story of Asia versus Europe but now it just seems to be China versus Europe Anomalies such as Ugo Calderano dotting about. Aruna in the same kind of category as Calderano. Serious, serious threat who is a pioneer for his country. Calderano 4-3 ahead in this second game. Devastating. Felix Lebrun there. This would be a massive confidence booster for either of these two. Ugo Calderano looking to get back up to where he was. He's been his highest three in the world. Felix at his peak right now. In terms of the highest that he's been at five. Have a piece. Again that push on the line. In your face shot. Haven't been able to convert really behind serves. Shows you the strength in both of these players' receive game so far this match. Well actually it's going to take something a little bit more than serve receive. That said, in this game so far we haven't seen that many long rallies so more evident. Unique service there from Felix Lebrun. Replaces what would be a backhand serve if he wasn't a penholder. Off the bounce. Stays low. Keeps the timing point early. Closes the racket angle. Perfectly executed there. Using the peripheral vision after maneuvering Calderano into the backhand space. Executionary there. Push. Didn't help Lebrun win that one. Crowd just being reminded to turn their flashes off. That's a flashing shot from Calderano. Wonderful. When Calderano is in the swing of things basically impossible to deny. The way he meets the ball. Felix is absolutely furious. Three points in a row. Comes back. Double-handed backhand from Calderano. You can't believe he's missed it Felix but still Calderano with another one of his showpiece shots. Might have just distracted Felix Lebrun for a split second and that is enough in this sport, because this game of split second decision making Felix facing two game points. And now he's staring down the barrel of the gun. Calderano 2-0 up here. Push to forehand. He was going to go for the chop block but I'll tell you what's been exceptional from Calderano. Much improved serve received. Due to his frustration. Love it from Calderano. He made that look so easy, so smooth. Defensive, slaps it and then look at this loop here. Gets low, comes up the back of the ball more relaxed. Better late than never for Lebrun. Wins his first point in this third game but Calderano still with a very, very healthy lead. Fades it off the loose ball. Cross it into the body of Lebrun. 12 of the last 16. The thrill from Brazil. Showing no sign of slowing. Going to keep his focus here Calderano. Can't slacken off. Can't look to put on a show. He's got to just play each point up to press. 6-2. That's fantastic. Uncontainable. Unparalleled. Rips another backhand cross court. Beautiful block there from Lebrun's RPB. Hasn't been able in this third game to really have a sniff. And Hugo Calderano is on the verge here beating Felix Lebrun 3-0. Hasn't had the best season by his standards Calderano but this could be a game changer. Try to come in. Take it right off the bounce to close out the angle to finish Felix off. Brilliant point. Reaction from Lebrun. He knows he is still in deep, deep trouble. It's going to be an upset. Not just because Calderano is going to win it but how. And it's five match points. What a performance for the throw from Brazil. He's the first non-Chinese player to beat Felix Lebrun in overies.