Table tennis and Netflix push Ukraine teen into French Open contention

English Woman's Journal - Table tennis and Netflix push Ukraine teen into French Open contention

SPORTS 10.10.2024

Table tennis and Netflix push Ukraine teen into French Open contention / Photo: Raj Mehta - GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP

Ukraine amateur golfer Lev Grinberg went from his on-site dormitory room to the brink of the French Open lead on Thursday, inspired by table tennis and Netflix.

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The 16-year-old lives at Le Golf National, the venue for the European Tour event, while he works with the French Golf Federation Academy.

His local knowledge paid off as he carded a 66 to stand one shot off the first round lead shared by England's Joseph Dean, Jesper Svensson of Sweden and Danish golfer Thorbjoern Olesen.

"I'm definitely going to have a good rest now. Do my normal routine. Play ping-pong with my friends in the evening," said Grinberg after his round which took place on a waterlogged course used for the Paris Olympics.

"Have a good sleep. Watch Netflix. Practise, eat and yeah, same game plan tomorrow and see what happens.

"I think I'm going to have some fans hopefully tomorrow as well and I'm going to enjoy it. Just sort of admire that I'm here and have fun."

Grinberg's previous experience on the European Tour has come at the Belgian Open in Antwerp where he made the cut as a 14-year-old in 2022 before contesting the Dutch Open two weeks later.

On Thursday, Grinberg made three birdies in succession from the sixth hole to turn in 33 and, after a solitary dropped shot at the 11th, fired another hat-trick from the 14th to reach five under.

E.Brwon--EWJ

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English Woman's Journal - Table tennis and Netflix push Ukraine teen into French Open contention