Alex Lanier Comes Back From 11-3 Down to Seal Historic World Championships Medal

Alex Lanier produced a remarkable comeback against last year's World Championships finalist Kunlavut Vitidsarn to secure his first-ever World Championships medal and become the first French men's singles player to reach the semi-finals.

The 21-year-old Frenchman appeared to be heading out of the tournament after losing the opening game and falling 11-3 behind in the second. But Lanier refused to let the contest slip away, mounting a stunning recovery to win the second game 21-16.

With the momentum firmly on his side, Lanier continued to put pressure on Vitidsarn in the decider. He again prevailed 21-16 to complete the comeback and book his place in the semi-finals.

Speaking in the post-match mixed zone, Lanier admitted he was proud of the way he fought through the match but was already looking ahead.

"I think I fought very hard today and I'm proud of myself. Just need now to focus on recovery and focus for tomorrow," Lanier said.

The victory guarantees Lanier his first World Championships medal at just 21, adding another landmark achievement to a breakthrough period for French badminton.

Alex Lanier wants to change the colour of his medal

Lanier was quick to make it clear that simply reaching the semi-finals is not enough.

"I want to change the colour of the medal, definitely. I'm also excited about tomorrow," he said.

The Frenchman also played down the historical significance of becoming the first French men's singles player to reach the World Championships semi-finals, insisting his attention remains firmly on the matches ahead.

"I'm not thinking really about it. I know it's quite important, but definitely I'm focused on just matches after matches. And then let's see after the tournament."

'We have the talent': Alex Lanier on France's badminton rise

Lanier's breakthrough comes during a period of growing success for French badminton, with Christo Popov also making significant strides on the international stage and the French team enjoying strong results at the Thomas Cup.

Lanier credited both the players' work and greater investment from the French federation for the country's progress.

"I think we have the talent, but also we are practising the right way. And we are also practising hard," he said.

"And I think that's also very, very important. The staff around made us also being better than ever."

For Lanier, the combination of talent, coaching and investment has helped create a stronger structure for French players.

"Definitely the structure is better. And yeah, I think here we are growing up differently."

'I was quite surprised' by crowd support

Lanier also revealed that the atmosphere inside the arena helped him during his comeback, with the crowd supporting both players despite Vitidsarn also enjoying strong backing.

"I was quite surprised that they were supporting Kuna but also myself," Lanier said.

The Frenchman said he tries to give spectators something to respond to with his aggressive and entertaining style.

"I'm also trying to play my best and give everything on court. And I'm very grateful that the crowd is giving back to me."

"I feel the atmosphere. I feel the arena when we play great rallies and definitely it helps today."

For now, Lanier's focus remains on recovering and preparing for the semi-final. But whatever happens next, his comeback against Vitidsarn has already secured his place in French badminton history.