An Se-young Defends Denmark Open Title After Three-Game Battle
World No. 1 An Se-young produced a determined comeback to retain the women’s singles crown at the Denmark Open, defeating Japan’s Akane Yamaguchi 21-23, 21-14, 21-18 in a gripping final in Odense on Sunday. The victory capped a dramatic day of badminton and reinforced An’s position among the sport’s most consistent performers.
The top seed had to recover from losing a closely contested opening game before navigating a challenging decider. Yamaguchi’s speed and sharp attacking play put An under pressure, particularly early in the third game. But the Korean adjusted her tactics, improved her control at the net and found the composure needed to turn the match around.
An turns the decider around
The first game was tight from the outset, with both players trading points and refusing to give ground. An pushed the contest deep, but Yamaguchi held firm to take it 23-21. The response from the world No. 1 was immediate: An raised her intensity, applied more pressure in the rallies and levelled the match with a 21-14 second-game win.
Yamaguchi began the deciding game aggressively, using quick drops and flat drives to disrupt An’s rhythm. The Japanese shuttler built an 11-5 advantage, leaving the defending champion with a substantial deficit to overcome. An struggled to read the pace of the attack at first and gave away several points through errors.
The momentum shifted after the final change of ends. An tightened her shot selection, moved more effectively around the court and began to blunt Yamaguchi’s fast exchanges. The Korean steadily closed the gap before moving ahead 13-12. Once she had the lead, An did not allow her rival to regain control, eventually sealing the title 21-18.
The final added another chapter to a rivalry between two of women’s badminton’s leading players. Their previous meeting came in the women’s singles final at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, where An won gold. With the Denmark Open result, she extended her head-to-head advantage over Yamaguchi to 24-15.
Chinese pair claim mixed doubles crown
China secured the mixed doubles title in an all-Chinese final, as second seeds Jiang Zhen Bang and Wei Ya Xin defeated top-seeded compatriots Feng Yan Zhe and Huang Dong Ping. The 55-minute match swung sharply between the pairs before Jiang and Wei finished strongly to win 21-18, 8-21, 21-16.
Jiang and Wei took the opening game by staying composed through a close finish. Their opponents responded emphatically in the second, dominating the exchanges and limiting the second seeds to just eight points. The deciding game proved more balanced, but Jiang and Wei regained their discipline, managed the crucial rallies and converted their opportunity to lift the trophy.
Malaysia and Indonesia triumph in doubles
Malaysia’s Pearly Tan and Thinaah Muralitharan captured the women’s doubles title with a straight-games victory over Japan’s Hinata Suzuki and Nao Yamakita. The second-seeded Malaysians won 21-18, 21-11, showing patience in a competitive first game before taking control in the second.
The opening game required Tan and Thinaah to remain focused as the Japanese pair stayed within reach. After edging ahead, the Malaysians carried that momentum into the next game, where their improved consistency and sharper attacking play helped them pull away. The result delivered a significant title for the Malaysian duo on the Super 750 circuit.
Indonesia’s Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Shohibul Fikri followed with a men’s doubles victory over Malaysia’s Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik. Alfian and Fikri won 21-18, 21-16, using steady pressure and well-timed attacks to keep the Malaysian pair from building a sustained comeback. Their straight-games win added another major result for Indonesia at the tournament.
Lanier stuns home favourite Antonsen
The men’s singles final brought disappointment for the home crowd, as Denmark’s fifth seed Anders Antonsen fell to seventh-seeded Frenchman Alex Lanier. The reigning world champion won 21-15, 13-21, 21-13, delivering a composed performance in the deciding game to claim the title.
Antonsen found his rhythm in the second game and levelled the match, raising hopes of a home victory. Lanier, however, responded by regaining control in the third, using his pace and attacking accuracy to create separation on the scoreboard. The Frenchman’s win underlined his ability to handle the pressure of a major final, while Antonsen was left just short in front of his home supporters.
What’s next for An Se-young?
An’s Denmark Open defence provides a strong platform for the next stage of her season. She is scheduled to face India’s P. V. Sindhu in the Round of 32 at the French Open, which runs in Paris from October 20 to 25. The matchup is expected to draw attention from badminton fans, with both players bringing extensive experience and major titles to the court.
The Denmark Open once again demonstrated why the Super 750 tournament is a key stop on the international badminton calendar. Its finals featured long rallies, major momentum shifts and champions from several leading nations. For An, the headline was a successful title defence built on resilience; across the doubles events, Malaysia, Indonesia and China also left Odense with trophies.
