Vladimir Sidorenko (Photo WTT)
It was a crazy day at the WTT Star Contender Muscat 2025, with seeds falling and underdogs rising at Sultan Qaboos Sport Complex.
Stealing the show was qualifier Vladimir Sidorenko, who sent shockwaves across the arena with his spectacular 10-12, 11-9, 6-11, 11-9, 11-8 win over sixth seed Simon Gauzy.
The odds were stacked against World No.107 Sidorenko, as he stepped up to the table to face Gauzy, one of the sport’s finest players.
A match defined by drama, Sidorenko shot out of the gates with a stellar start, leading Gauzy 7-2. But the World No.18 began to build momentum, hitting back with a remarkable recovery to take the game 10-12, and with it, the first advantage in the heated battle.
The second game was nip and tuck throughout, with neither player showing any real signs of pulling ahead. Play was locked at 9-9, but it was Sidorenko’s turn to get his name on the scoreboard, the 23-year-old claiming two points on the trot to level proceedings at one game apiece.
With a comfortable third game going the way of the Frenchman, and a tight fourth awarded to Sidorenko, fans were in for a treat, as play entered a deciding game.
Off like a rocket, Sidorenko shot ahead, increasing a 6-2 lead to 10-3. Despite the overwhelming scoreline, though, Gauzy didn’t give in, the Frenchman winning the next five points, bringing the duel to a boiling point.
Yet at 10-8, Gauzy was unable to convert, leaving Sidorenko to take the game 11-8, knocking the Frenchman from the title race in Muscat.
Meanwhile, Felix Lebrun reached a new significant career milestone, taking down Feng Yi-Hsin 13-11, 11-6, 11-9 to complete his 100th match win on the WTT stage.
The young Frenchman, whose first senior match win came at WTT Contender Lasko 2021, has come a long way since that victory over Alfonso Olave four years ago.
Now an established megastar, Felix Lebrun was the outright favourite in the showdown with Feng Yi-Hsin. Despite the latter player holding two game point opportunities in the opening game, it was Lebrun who proved the more clinical, denying his Chinese Taipei counterpart 13-11, before following up in ruthless fashion.
The top seeded Lebrun turns his attention to the Round of 16 in Muscat, setting up an exciting clash with Omar Assar, who emerged victorious over Park Gyuhyeon 12-10, 6-11, 11-6, 11-6.
In the Women’s Singles, World No.197 Elizabet Abraamian, who made headlines in the previous round with her epic turnaround against Hana Arapovic, extended her dream-run, with a jaw-dropping 11-5, 11-7, 7-11, 8-11, 12-10 win over fourth seed Cheng I-Ching.
The magnificent display brings the 22-year-old Abraamian to the Round of 16, where she is set to meet another tough opponent, World No.39 Zeng Jian.
Meanwhile, top seed Hina Hayata edged through a nail-biter of a scrap with Christina Kallberg, the Japanese star winning 11-7, 10-12, 11-6, 9-11, 11-8.
Fifth seeded Bernadette Szocs saw her qualifying dreams fade, losing out to wildcard entry Park Gahyeon 7-11, 11-8, 6-11, 11-9, 11-9 to see her pursuit of a ticket to Hong Kong, China come to a halt.
Meanwhile, Anna Hursey continues to make an exciting impact on the senior stage, picking up a top draw win over No.8 seed Elizabeta Samara, winning 11-9, 11-3, 11-7.
