Félix Lebrun double European champion in Ljubljana: surprise and pride after two finals

Felix Lebrun won his first European title in singles, Sunday 18 October 2026 in Ljubljana, Slovenia. The 20-year-old Frenchman beat Sweden's Anton Kallberg in seven rounds, the day after his double victory with his brother Alexis. RMC Sport, L. [S2] [S3] [S4] [S7] [S9]

A favorite surprised by his own week

His status as world number two made him a favorite, but did not summarize his state of mind. In the comments published by the ETU after the final, Lebrun explains that he did not feel at his best when arriving and did not imagine such a double success. He describes a progressive improvement over the tournament. His surprise is, therefore, the result of his week, not the lack of ambition: before the championships, he had presented the individual title as a major goal. [S2] [S9] [S10]

This ambition concerned precisely the European championships. Lebrun had already won the single at the European Games of 2023, a separate competition. It also recalled, before Ljubljana, its European titles in doubles in 2024 and in teams in 2025. The individual crown of these championships remained to be won. [S10]

A reverse finish, then a single-way handle

Against Kallberg, the Frenchman had to find a way out of a long-decided encounter. After losing the first inning, he won the next two, before being led three innings to two. He then equalized, then dominated the decisive round to win 7-11, 11-9, 13-11, 8-11, 9-11, 11-6, 11-1. The last score must not mask the resistance of the Swedish during the main part of the final. [S3] [S4] [S9]

Invited to "Bartoli Time" on RMC, Lebrun described "a crazy emotion," and then delivered his appreciation of this conclusion: "I made the best set of my competition, or even my life, on the beauty. This formula expresses the feeling of the champion, who associates his satisfaction with the work done with his team. [S2]

The ETTU report specifies the change that occurred when it was carried out. Lebrun told his coach that his services did not allow him to implement the planned tactical plan. He chose less to attach to this plan and to focus on the fight, point after point. This is the explanation he gives of his reversal, without allowing it to isolate a single cause of victory. [S9]

Kallberg's testimony provides additional insight. The Swede believes that he had a real chance to win, then was destabilized by the improvement and changes in French services. In the last two rounds, he said he was no longer able to exert enough pressure in trade. The two opponents thus describe the same shift, one since its resumption of initiative, the other since its difficulties in responding. [S9]

Two titles with a common family history

The day before, Felix and Alexis had retained their European crown in double gentlemen by beating Kallberg and Kristian Karlsson, three innings in two. The Swede thus finished the competition with two silver medals, each time after a final against at least one of the Lebrun brothers. [S9]

As a simple matter, Felix succeeded Alexis, entitled in 2024 in Linz. He also joined Jacques Secrétin, winner in 1976, and Emmanuel Lebesson, who was awarded the French prize in 2016. On RMC, he insisted on the difficulty of achieving this double and on his pride in seeing the two brothers achieve it two years apart. [S2] [S4] [S7]

Satisfaction does not close its programme of work. Lebrun still identifies progress to be made in the small game, the right move and regularity. He also refuses to dissociate physical, mental and technical from his performance: according to him, their meeting at decisive moments allowed him to play at his best level. [S2]

De Nodrest and Pavade complete the French success

The course of Léo De Nodrest gives another measure of the difficulties encountered by the winner. De Nodrest came out of the qualifyings and eliminated Darko Jorgic and Benedikt Duda before yielding to Lebrun in the semifinals, four rounds in two, and leaving with bronze. The future champion admits that the services and the first attacks of his compatriot have constantly embarrassed him. [S7] [S9]

Prithika Pavade also won bronze, after a seven-run defeat against Elizabet Abraamian despite a match ball. RFI points out that it is his first European medal in singles among the seniors, a more circumscribed formulation than the "first international podium" used by 20 Minutes. These podiums complete Lebrun's double, without prejudging its next international deadlines. [S4] [S7]