Shi Yuqi is into his first final at his home badminton tournament of the 2025 BWF China Open, where he will go for a fifth singles title of the year.
The world number two defeated sixth seed Chou Tien-chen 21-13, 22-20 in the semi-finals on Saturday (26 July), booking his place in the final at Beijing’s Olympic Sports Centre Gymnasium.
Shi is aiming to reinstate his number one ranking spot, which he lost in May to Kunlavut Vitidsarn of Thailand, after 52 consecutive weeks at the top. The 29-year-old shuttler celebrates his first final appearance at the China Open in his third semi-final in the Chinese capital.
He makes up an all-Chinese final with compatriot Wang Zhengxing in the men’s singles final, after the unseeded 23-year-old produced a superb performance to eliminate second seed Anders Antonsen.
Wang came through straight games to triumph 21-18, 21-15 in Beijing, marking his debut appearance in a Super 1000 final and on home soil no less. The China Open men’s singles final will take place on Sunday (27 July).
The women’s final matchup is to be determined later on Saturday, as Yamaguchi Akane takes on home hope Wang Zhiyi in the first semi-final, before world no. 1 An Seyoung meets another Chinese shuttler in Han Yue.