2–0 Up and 10–6 in the Decider—Yet Zhang Ben Suffers a Stunning Collapse as Japanese Media Blame “Noise Distraction”!

The WTT Montpellier Championship has once again proven to be a land of miracles. In a stunning showdown, France’s Alexis Lebrun pulled off an incredible 3–2 comeback victory over Japan’s Tomokazu Harimoto. What made the result even more shocking was that Harimoto, the tournament’s No. 2 seed, had a commanding 2–0 lead before losing three consecutive games. Remarkably, both the top two men’s and women’s seeds have now been eliminated from the competition.

In the decisive fifth game, Harimoto once led 10–6 and appeared in full control, his eyes brimming with confidence. Yet, in a flash, everything changed. Lebrun rallied with a breathtaking six-point streak to snatch the game 12–10, completing one of the most dramatic turnarounds of the year. Harimoto, who had been on the brink of victory, suddenly found himself on the wrong side of a 2–3 defeat in what can only be described as a match for the ages.

At one point, Harimoto led two games to none and held four match points in the final set, only to see Lebrun save them all and unleash a 6–0 surge to seal the win. The scoreline told the story: 11–9, 11–9, 4–11, 9–11, 10–12.

Japanese media, however, took a surprisingly mild stance. Tokyo Sports News headlined the report simply: “After Leading 10–6 in the Decider, Tomokazu Harimoto Falls to Local Star Alexis Lebrun, Exiting in the Round of 16.”

Rather than harsh criticism, the outlet offered an explanation, noting that “the fourth game was fiercely contested, reaching 9–9, but Harimoto was affected by the noisy atmosphere as Lebrun edged it 11–9 to force a decider. In the fifth game, Harimoto led 10–6 and earned match points first, but amid loud cheers, he gradually lost his rhythm. Lebrun took six points in a row, completing the comeback.”

Even Japanese fans showed understanding this time. One supporter commented, “He led 10–6 but still lost — it really shows how strong the home advantage was in Montpellier.”

Other fans chimed in with thoughtful reflections:

1. “I hope Harimoto wins next time. We shouldn’t only focus on Chinese players — European and Korean athletes are also incredibly strong.”
2. “An unbelievable result! Even though Harimoto lost, it shows how much closer the global level of table tennis has become to China’s.”
3. “He was defeated by the power of the home crowd — the French team truly had the advantage.”