It was a red letter day for the home nation at the VICTOR China Open 2025 in Changzhou on Saturday, dominating the semifinals and setting up four all-China title matches at the last Super 1000 event of the season. Only Indonesia’s men’s doubles scratch pairing Fajar Alfian/Muhammad Shohibul Fikri proving a thorn in the home side’s attempt at a clean sweep.

China were an impressive 8-2 on the day with men’s doubles aces Liang Wei Keng/Wang Cheng (conquered by Alfian/Fikri), and mixed doubles pair Guo Xin Wa/Chen Fang Hui (who lost their all-China semifinal against world No.1’s Feng Yan Zhe and Huang Dong Pin), the only ones missing out.

The sold out crowd, the string of consecutive victories, and the tricky drift conditions that the hosts know best, proving a near-impossible combination for their international rivals to combat. For once the winning streak began it became a near certainty that it would continue, with even their most unfancied of chances, Wang Zheng Xing in men’s singles, growing a leg and notching a popular victory over Dane Anders Antonsen.

Playing with incredible speed and accuracy, Wang was too good for the world No.3 21-18 21-15. “Speed has always been one of my strengths. This tournament here hasn’t been easy, but these experiences have built my confidence, which is why I could play faster and make more decisive shots today,” he said.

There was a small window for Akane Yamaguchi to spoil the party, with China’s other Wang, Zhi Yi — battling the flu for most of the week, and still slightly under the weather — looking most vulnerable. Yamaguchi’s opening game effort to lead 17-14 further indicating this might have been the case.

Yet, the 25-year-old Zhi Yi was another to thrive on this home-soil momentum and was able to dispel any thoughts of anything other than a Chinese representative in the women’s singles final, by steadying the ship and claiming a straight games victory.

“I’m actually very excited because this week has been pretty tough for me. Winning today’s hard fought match, my emotions finally got released,” she said.

Having lost in all three Super 1000 finals this year, Zhi Yi was determined to stop that trend. “The key [for me] is to stay focused on every single match. No athlete steps onto the court wanting to lose. For me, what matters most is doing my best in the process.”

Korean world No.1 and Olympic champ An Se Young, Zhi Yi’s conqueror in all three of those finals, was attempting to become the first player ever to win all four Super 1000s titles in one season on the HSBC BWF World Tour.

However, in tune with the theme of the day, Han Yue, with all the favours on her side — momentum, atmosphere, the willingness of the crowd, and a niggling knee injury to An — capitalised on this perfect storm of scenarios to secure the fourth all-China final in Changzhou.

Perhaps it was not in the fashion that she wanted it — An retiring with the score 21-19 11-6, having looked off the pace from the start — but it was difficult to see this result going any other way.

A disappointed An said: “I felt discomfort in my knee while preparing for this match. I couldn’t really focus during the match because of my injury. I really didn’t want to present this side of myself on court. This injury is not something that I wanted. So, of course I’m disappointed.”

On missing out on her shot at history, An added: “Yes, I’m very disappointed but it can’t be helped that I got this injury. Although I really wished to accomplish this record, my body failed me. I can’t be impatient, though. I will get this opportunity again in future.”

Outside of the Chinese dominance, the giant-killers of the day were Alfian/Fikri. The Indonesians again dominated from the front court, in what is quickly becoming a very potent temporary union.

“Today we implemented a fast-paced game and controlled the front-court play. We also played with a relaxed attitude, playing comfortably because we weren’t a long-term pairing.

“It wasn’t easy for us, because in addition to facing Liang/Wang, we also had to play against a stadium with incredibly enthusiastic supporters of the home team. We tried to relax and focus,” said Alfian.

“It means a lot to me to reach the Super 1000 final. It’s been a long time since Fajar [Alfian} and I have been on the podium, especially at this level. Hopefully, we can be champions tomorrow,” Fikri added.

They will play Malaysia’s Aaron Chia/Soh Wooi Yik in the final, who accounted for Indians Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty in the only match of the day not to feature a Chinese player or pair.

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