Orleans Masters: Lanier, Gicquel/Delrue Lead Home Hopes
World No.10 Alex Lanier will seek to defend his title on home soil at this week’s Orleans Masters 2026, the second seed having not won an HSBC BWF World Tour event since claiming victory in Orleans last March.
· BWF STAFF
Lanier, whose best result in the last year was a runner-up finish at the Super 750 Japan Open in July, will face compatriot Arnaud Merkle in their fourth meeting. Merkle leads the head-to-head 2–1.
Chinese Taipei’s Chou Tien Chen leads the men’s singles draw as the top seed and will open his campaign against Kantaphon Wangcharoen.
There have also been changes to the draw following the withdrawal of No.3 seed Kenta Nishimoto. The Japanese had been scheduled to face India's Kiran George in the opening round. George will now take on teammate Ayush Shetty, who moves into the draw as the eighth seed.