World Badminton Championships: France's Gicquel and Delrue Celebrate Historic Final Berth

French mixed doubles pair Thom Gicquel and Delphine Delrue have achieved a historic milestone, securing their place in the final of the World Badminton Championships. This marks the first time a French duo has reached the final in this discipline, a feat they celebrated with immense joy and relief.

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I am so happy to have won. After losing the first set on my serve, I admit I blamed myself for a long time. We had to start over, and then we played at an incredible level. We didn't let up, and frankly, I think we felt the pressure because Alex was playing right after. We wanted to be the first, so we are very happy.

"I am so happy to have won," said Delphine Delrue, reflecting on the match. "After losing the first set on my serve, I admit I blamed myself for a long time. We had to start over, and then we played at an incredible level. We didn't let up, and frankly, I think we felt the pressure because Alex was playing right after. We wanted to be the first, so we are very happy."

Thom Gicquel echoed her sentiments, describing the win as "crazy" and expressing their happiness. "We already had bronze last year. We wanted more this year. We knew we were capable of it." He acknowledged the difficulty after losing the first set, admitting, "I told myself, 'Damn, this is going to be tough. We'll have to dig deep into our energy, our mental resources to come back.' And that's what we managed to do. We were resilient, and when it works out, we are super happy."

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It's crazy! We are super happy. We already had bronze last year. We wanted more this year. We knew we were capable of it. After, indeed, the loss of the first set, it was a bit hard because I told myself: 'Damn, this is going to be tough. We'll have to dig deep into our energy, our mental resources to come back.' And that's what we managed to do. We were resilient, and when it works out, we are super happy.

Delrue described the beginning of the third set, where they led 12-0, as a moment of intense stress, even with her hand trembling. "But at the same time, it was working, so we had to keep putting pressure on them. We knew that at some point, they would play better, they wouldn't have too much pressure anymore. So we had a little dip after, but I think we stayed pretty focused."

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I was so stressed at 12-0. I had already served 12 times in a row or something like that. My hand was shaking, I didn't know what to do (laughs). But at the same time, it was working, so we had to keep putting pressure on them. We knew that at some point, they would play better, they wouldn't have too much pressure anymore. So we had a little dip after, but I think we stayed pretty focused.

Gicquel added that despite the stress, they did not give their opponents easy points, making them work hard for every rally. This strategy, he believes, is more effective than making unforced errors. The pair had prepared for difficult moments, having discussed strategies with their mental coach to overcome the frustration of losing a tight first set, a challenge they had faced in previous tournaments.

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But even if there was stress, we didn't give them easy points. As we might have done in the past, I think we were quite calm. We made them work, they had to smash for a long time to score points. And that hurts them more than if you make mistakes on serve or return. Whereas now, by having a minute of point each time, they knew it would crack at some point.