Sweden's Doubles Team Exits World Championships, Medal Hopes Dim
Kristian Karlsson and Mattias Falck exit the World Table Tennis Championships, leaving Sweden's medal hopes in jeopardy.
Key Points
- • Karlsson and Falck eliminated by world-ranked top pair Lebrun.
- • Match ended 3-1 in favor of the Lebrun brothers.
- • Karlsson expressed disappointment in their performance.
- • Truls Möregårdh is the only remaining Swedish player in the tournament.
In the 2025 World Table Tennis Championships, the Swedish doubles team of Kristian Karlsson and Mattias Falck was eliminated in the quarterfinals by the French duo Felix and Alexis Lebrun. The match, which ended with a score of 3-1 in favor of the Lebrun brothers, marked a disappointing turn for the Swedish pair as they sought their first medal in the tournament.
Post-match, Karlsson voiced his disappointment, stating, "It’s clear that we are disappointed. They are ranked number one in the world for a reason, and we did not reach our maximum level." His partner, Falck, added that they were pressured into making several mistakes during the match. The Lebrun brothers, being the top-ranked players globally, are now favorites to win the entire tournament, as noted by expert J-O Waldner.
Despite their early exit, the Swedish players remain focused on future goals, particularly looking forward to the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. In the match, they struggled considerably, falling behind 1-6 in the fourth set, which proved insurmountable despite attempts to regain control through timeouts. As the doubles event concluded for Sweden, Truls Möregårdh stands as the only remaining competitor, preparing for his singles quarterfinal match, hoping to keep Sweden’s hopes alive in the tournament.