Lebrun Brothers, Hayata and Harimoto Capture Historic Doubles Titles at Singapore Smash

The WTT Singapore Smash produced a doubles weekend that rewrote recent Grand Smash storylines, with Alexis and Félix Lebrun sweeping China’s Lin Shidong and Huang Youzheng 3-0 (11-6, 11-6, 11-7) in the evening session on Feb 28 and Japan’s Miwa Harimoto and Hina Hayata beating Miyu Nagasaki and Shin Yu-bin 3-0 (11-9, 11-8, 11-7) the same day in front of almost 6,000 fans.

The women’s doubles win cemented Harimoto’s place in the record books. At 17 years old, Harimoto became the youngest Grand Smash champion, surpassing Lin Shidong’s 2024 mark when Lin was 19, and she emphasized the partnership’s growth that began at the Paris 2024 Olympics. Harimoto told Straitstimes, “With more communication and matches, our chemistry and partnership got better. She is a leftie and I am right-handed, which makes for a good combination, and I hope we can play more together and be successful in the future.” The pair’s straight-sets victory over Nagasaki and Shin played out before a near-capacity crowd and, according to reporting, raises the possibility of challenging China for gold in the women’s singles and doubles at the 2028 Olympics.

The Lebrun brothers’ triumph in men’s doubles has immediate ranking and financial consequences. Ranked third entering the final, Alexis and Félix claimed the winners’ cheque of US$10,000 and 2,000 world ranking points, and the report noted that the duo look set for a return to the top of the world rankings. Their 3-0 victory over a pairing that included China’s world No. 6 Lin Shidong marked the third consecutive Grand Smash in which China have not won the men’s doubles title, a streak that signals shifting balances in the event.

Brazil provided an earlier shock on Feb 27 when Hugo Calderano and Bruna Takahashi became the first Grand Smash winners from the Americas by taking mixed doubles. Men’s singles world No. 2 Calderano told The Sunday Times that “The level all around the world has improved a lot in the past few years.” He added, “It didn’t help China that Ma Long, Fan Zhendong and Xu Xin are not playing for them now,” framing Brazil’s breakthrough as part of a broader global rise.

Commentary in coverage captured the wider significance. Straitstimes observed, “Wang Chuqin is really at the top now, but the rest of the world is also competing at a higher level and there are more players who are in contention.” Social media underlined the headlines: an Instagram post read, “Men's doubles title for the Lebrun brothers and women's doubles title for Harimoto/Hayata at Singapore Smash Congratulations to both duos!” With the Lebrun brothers pocketing ranking points and Harimoto setting a new age milestone, the doubles landscape heading into the rest of 2026 looks open and competitive.