A year after his breakthrough victory at the Japan Open, Alex Lanier is back in Tokyo not just to defend his title but to sharpen his form for the upcoming World Championships on home soil. Now ranked world No. 8, the Frenchmen’s singles star kicked off his 2025 Japan Open campaign with a commanding 21-12, 21-14 win over Leong Jun Hao and appears as confident as ever.
“Maybe there’s a bit of pressure, but I’m in a good place mentally,” said Lanier, who arrived a week early to train with Japanese players and Denmark’s Anders Antonsen at the NTT Club. “I’m not the underdog anymore. I’m more stable physically and mentally. I feel good in the big arenas now.”
The 20-year-old is not treating the Japan and China Opens merely as tune-ups but as serious title pursuits. As the World Championships in Paris approach, Lanier is preparing not only physically but also mentally to handle the intensity, media spotlight, and support from friends and family.
“There’s definitely pressure, but I want to use that energy. I want to give the fans something to enjoy and show them I’ve been working for them.”
Lanier’s growth mirrors a larger resurgence in French badminton, and with the World Championships less than a month away, he’s keen to show that last year’s win was just the beginning.
