PARIS — World No. 1 An Se-young has firmly cemented her status as the current powerhouse in women's badminton, securing the French Open title and hoisting her ninth international tournament trophy of the year. The South Korean sensation dominated the final of the Badminton World Federation (BWF) World Tour Super 750 event in Cesson-Sévigné, France, on October 26 (KST), defeating China’s Wang Zhiyi (World No. 2) in a commanding straight-sets victory: 2-0 (21-13, 21-7).
The victory marks An Se-young's third time claiming the French Open championship, adding to her previous successes in 2019 and 2024. The win caps an exhausting but fruitful European swing for An, who had just triumphed at the Super 750 Denmark Open the previous week.
An's final performance was a masterclass in efficiency, lasting only 42 minutes. This decisive win came just one day after a grueling 87-minute semi-final clash against her formidable rival, Chen Yufei (World No. 5, China). An emerged victorious from that battle, overcoming her 'natural foe' with a 2-1 (23-21, 18-21, 21-16) scoreline, showcasing her mental fortitude and physical endurance.
Carrying the momentum from the semi-final, An displayed an aggressive and precise game against Wang Zhiyi in the final. The first game saw a tight contest until a 9-9 tie. An then shifted gears, unleashing a flurry of consecutive points to pull away, ultimately securing the set comfortably after a five-point run at the end. The second game was nothing short of a rout. An completely overwhelmed her opponent, conceding a mere seven points and sealing the match in a breathtaking demonstration of top-tier badminton.
With this latest win, An Se-young extended her commanding head-to-head record against Wang Zhiyi to 15 wins and 4 losses. Crucially, the Korean star has won all five encounters between the two this year, underscoring her current dominance over the Chinese player.
An's relentless schedule has been matched only by her incredible consistency. She participated in the French Open just two days after her victory at the BWF World Tour Super 750 Denmark Open, held in Odense from October 14–19. The two back-to-back gold medals during the two-week European tour highlight her unwavering form.
Out of 13 international tournaments An has entered this year, she has stood on the top podium nine times. Her impressive haul includes three prestigious Super 1000 series titles (Malaysia Open, All England Open, Indonesia Open), five Super 750 titles (India Open, Japan Open, China Open, Denmark Open, and now the French Open), and the Super 300 Orleans Masters. Her exceptional performance record solidifies her reputation as the most dominant female singles player in the world, setting a high bar for her competitors as the season draws towards its conclusion.
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