Badminton: Christo Popov becomes the first French player to reach the world number one ranking
By defeating Indonesian Mohammad Zaki Ubaidillah in three sets (21-11, 14-21, 21-13) on Sunday, October 25, in Tremblay, Christo Popov triumphed at the French Badminton Championships, securing the world number one position in this discipline. This marks a first for a French player in men's singles.
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The 24-year-old badminton player from Fos-sur-Mer is set to quickly surpass Thailand's Kunlavut Vitidsarn early next week, further solidifying France's position among the emerging top nations in this sport. This comes just two months after historic world titles for Alex Lanier and the duo of Thomas Gicquel and Delphine Delrue.
“It’s incredible. It’s unprecedented. My goal was really to win the French Open. But to achieve both at the same time, at home. You can’t dream of better,” Popov said in an interview with L'Equipe. In Tremblay, the Sofia (Bulgaria) native had no choice but to win if he wanted to reach the top, finding himself third in the overall ranking behind Vitidsarn and Danish player Anders Antonsen before the start of this Super 750 tournament, equivalent to a Masters 1000 in tennis.
On the podium with family
The French badminton player, who was defeated in last year’s final of the French Championships, managed to prevail after an almost perfect run, losing only two sets and winning the final on Sunday against Indonesian Mohammad Zaki Ubaidillah (21-11, 14-21, 21-13). The lower-ranked player (28th) had caused a surprise by eliminating world champion Alex Lanier the day before.
After a warm-up with his older brother Toma Junior, who was eliminated in the quarter-finals by Lanier, Christo entered the court in front of 5,000 spectators fully supportive of him. Starting strong in the first set, which he won easily, the Frenchman then showed less precision, allowing his opponent to regain confidence and equalize at one set each. But supported by the crowd, he regrouped in the decisive set to secure the title and the world number one crown. The younger Popov celebrated this memorable day by stepping onto the top of the podium with his family, including his father and coach Toma.
Confidence on the rise
The year 2026 marks a turning point for the youngest of the Popov siblings, who has accumulated titles and achieved significant milestones. Having become the first Frenchman to win the World Tour Finals - equivalent to the tennis Masters - last December, Christo Popov was also crowned European champion in singles for the first time in April before claiming his first title in a Super 750 at the Japan Open in July. “Since last year, I know I can beat anyone, that I can win tournaments. Now, I need to focus and do it at the right time,” he stated at a press conference before the World Championships. This progress has also boosted the Frenchman’s “confidence.” This year, he has consistently climbed the rankings, even reaching second place in August, becoming the first French male badminton player to achieve this.
“It’s become easier to accept a loss because we put everything in place, without regrets. If we lose, it’s because the opponent was truly superior that day. I’m no longer obsessed with a match or a victory; if it didn’t go well, we’re convinced it will come back,” he added.
Three months after the Japan Open, Christo Popov wasted no time in claiming another title. And a new status.
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