On May 9, 2026, the French men's table tennis team, featuring brothers Alexis and Félix Lebrun, was defeated by China in the semifinals of the World Team Table Tennis Championships in Busan, South Korea. The final score was 3-0 in favor of China, with each match decided in straight sets.
China's lineup included world No. 1 Fan Zhendong, Wang Chuqin, and Ma Long, who dominated the French players. Alexis Lebrun lost to Fan Zhendong 3-0 (11-6, 11-7, 11-8), while Félix Lebrun fell to Wang Chuqin 3-0 (11-4, 11-9, 11-5). The third match saw Simon Gauzy defeated by Ma Long 3-0 (11-3, 11-6, 11-7).
France had reached the semifinals after a strong run, including a quarterfinal victory over Germany. The Lebrun brothers, aged 19 and 17, have been key to France's resurgence in table tennis, but China's depth proved too much.
China will face South Korea in the final on May 10, 2026. France will compete for the bronze medal against the loser of the other semifinal between South Korea and Japan.
