France had a strong start to the day at the YONEX-SUNRISE India Open 2026, with Thom Gicquel/Delphine Delrue and Christo Popov advancing to the quarter-finals after demanding three-game encounters.

Mixed doubles fifth seeds Gicquel/Delrue succeded in a tough test against Japan’s new pairing Hiroki Midorikawa/Nami Matsuyama, while fellow men’s singles fifth seed Christo Popov secured his first-ever win in the tour against India’s Kidambi Srikanth. The two players had last met four years ago.

Both wins marked a positive Round of 16 start for Europeans in New Delhi, with some quarterfinal spots now secured.