Unmatched... The Dominance of the Shuttlecock Queen
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- 2025-07-20 18:44:40
- Updated
- 2025-07-20 18:44:40
An Seyoung Wins Women's Singles at Japan Open
Defeats World No. 2 Wang Zhiyi in 42 Minutes
6th International Title of the Season
Defeats World No. 2 Wang Zhiyi in 42 Minutes
6th International Title of the Season
World No. 1 An Seyoung defeated World No. 2 Wang Zhiyi (China) 2-0 (21-12, 21-10) in the women's singles final of the BWF World Tour Super 750 Japan Open held in Tokyo, Japan on the 20th, lifting the golden trophy. The match lasted just 42 minutes. It was a dominant victory that proved her prowess as World No. 1. With this, An Seyoung has claimed her sixth international title of the season, following victories at the Malaysia Open, India Open, Orleans Masters, All England Open, and Indonesia Open. She reclaimed the top spot at the Japan Open after two years, having missed it last year due to injuries despite winning the gold medal at the Paris Olympics.
The biggest challenge of this tournament was the quarterfinals. It was a showdown against her rival Chen Yufei (China, 5th), who had handed An her only defeat. An Seyoung, determined to avenge her loss in the Singapore Open quarterfinals last May, came out stronger. She took the first game 21-16, setting the tone, and won the second game with a commanding 15-6 lead. She defeated Chen Yufei in just 43 minutes.
Regaining her confidence after defeating Chen Yufei, An Seyoung easily dispatched Japan's Gunji Riko (32nd) 2-0 (21-12, 21-10) in the semifinals to reach the final. She then overcame Wang Zhiyi, maintaining a perfect 5-0 record against her this season. The overall head-to-head record stands at 13 wins and 4 losses, reaffirming her status as the 'Wang Zhiyi Killer'. Last year, she had a brief setback due to knee and ankle injuries after the Paris Olympics, but she returned stronger, making that hiatus seem insignificant.
Immediately after the final, An Seyoung spread her arms wide and roared in celebration. It was the expression of a world-class player who still seeks to grow stronger despite already dominating her opponents. Even after the match ended, the applause from fans filling the Tokyo gymnasium did not cease. Jeon Sangil, Reporter