On a tough day for the European players, Alex Lanier emerged as the continent’s last hope, securing a spot in the All England semifinals in his debut appearance.
Earlier on Friday, European dreams faded as both Thom Gicquel/Delphine Delrue and Greg/Jenny Mairs bowed out of the tournament. But Lanier carried the torch, facing off against Wang Tzu Wei from Chinese Taipei — the player who had knocked out Anders Antonsen the day before.
It was a laser-focused Lanier who stepped onto the court, armed with a game plan that would carry him to victory. After the match, he was full of praise for his coach, Kęstutis Navickas:
"it's maybe the third year with him and we have a perfect connection. I think he knows me and I know him.
And on court, I'm just asking him to give me some advice, to give me some way to play. And then I go 100 percent on what he's saying to me. I'm quite thinking, I'm thinking a lot during the match, but sometimes I don't have all the answers and I think he gave me the rest of the answers I need on the court."
"They sent me to try the things we worked in the practice. And these few words just impact me quite a lot. And I did my best to follow what they were saying and it worked."
The strategy worked to perfection, and after 51 minutes, Lanier celebrated a well-earned victory with scores of 21-19, 21-13.
Looking ahead to tomorrow’s semifinal, the young Frenchman is full of belief and ready for the challenge:
"I try to play my best. I think the level is there, and I’m also ready to perform in this semifinal."