WTT Star Contender 2026: France’s hopes rest on the young shoulders of Coton and Poret
France has a proud tradition of producing world-class men’s singles players. Among the major stars is Jean-Philippe Gatien, Olympic silver medallist and World Championship gold medallist, while Emmanuel Lebesson and Simon Gauzy have bagged European singles titles.
Today, France’s spotlight shines on the Lebrun brothers–Felix (World No. 6) and Alexis (No. 14)–who are rapidly establishing themselves among the world’s elite. Backed by a strong domestic table tennis culture, the country continues to nurture emerging talents. The latest additions to this formidable lineup are Flavien Coton (World No. 32) and 21-year-old Thibault Poret (World No.35).
Last year proved to be a breakthrough for Coton and Poret, as they achieved their career-best performances in Chennai. At the WTT Star Contender in March last year, Coton reached the semifinals, while Poret advanced all the way to the final, eventually losing to South Korea’s Oh Junsung.
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With the WTT Star Contender set to begin at the Tamil Nadu Physical Education and Sports University here on Thursday, both Coton and Poret are hoping to make another deep run this year.
Coton recalls the 2025 Star Contender fondly, where he beat three seeded players–Alvaro Robles (Round of 32), Sora Matsushima, and Jonathan Groth–before losing to eventual champion Oh Junsung in the semifinals.
“It feels good. It was an amazing year for me. I started with a world ranking of 109 and finished in the top 30 [In January 2026],” said the 17-year-old, who also became the first Frenchman to win the European u‑21 championships the same year, told Sportstar here on Wednesday. “I think I was already playing well before, but I couldn’t win some matches. Winning against three top‑32 players in Chennai last year, gave me confidence for the future.”
For Poret, Chennai holds special memories. “I came here with so much ambition. I reached the final. This year, I have a big ambition, maybe win the title,” he said.
Based on their world rankings, Coton and Poret—who were part of the French team that won gold at the 2025 European Championships—might make their debut in the World Team Championships to be held in London in April–May. France will be aiming to improve on its second place finish from the 2024 Worlds in China.
“We were happy to be part of the team that won a historic gold in the 2025 European Championships. We hope to be in the team for the Worlds, but we will wait as the team selection is not over yet,” said Coton and Poret. They will hope Chennai proves once again to be a lucky charm and sets the tone for the future.
Published on Feb 11, 2026