CHONGQING, March 15 (Xinhua) -- Rooted for by a noisy Chinese crowd, French Felix Lebrun outlasted Japanese Sora Matsushima 4-3 at the WTT Champions Chongqing tournament on Sunday.
The world's sixth-ranked Lebrun came from 1-3 down to snatch three straight sets in the same score of 11-6, winning the semifinal 7-11, 11-8, 9-11, 11-13, 11-6, 11-6, 11-6.
Most of over 10,000 spectators were cheering for every point won by the Frenchman, who was at one time confused about why he became so popular in Chongqing.
One fan explained about Lebrun's sudden fame. "The Japanese player beat our idol Wang Chuqin," said a teenage fan who asked not to be named.
The world No. 1 Wang suffered a stunning quarterfinal loss to Matsushima on Saturday, who forced the Chinese into errors at clutch moments, winning the match 8-11, 11-9, 11-9, 11-8, 8-11, 11-9.
Lebrun, the best player in the pen-holding style, will take on Chinese Wen Ruibo in the final on Sunday night.
The 27th-ranked Chinese swept past fifth-rated Japanese Tomokazu Harimoto 6-11, 15-13, 11-5, 7-11, 11-7, 21-19.
The women's final pits fifth-ranked Chinese Kuai Man against eighth-ranked Japanese Miwa Harimoto.
Kuai nipped sixth-ranked teammate Wang Yidi 4-1 while Harimoto's kid sister shut out compatriot Satsuki Odo in five sets. ■
