YONEX German Open 2026 will mark Li Shi Feng’s season-opener after the world No.6 was wheeled off court last December.

The Chinese suffered a right ankle injury at the HSBC BWF World Tour Finals 2025 during his group match against Chou Tien Chen and hasn’t been seen in international competition since. Li is seeded second and will take on a qualifier in his first round.

At the top of the draw is 2024 champion Christo Popov, at his career-highest ranking of No.5. The top seed does face a tricky first round challenge in Kiran George. Other big names in his half are Lu Guang Zu, Lin Chun-Yi and Weng Hong Yang, while the bottom half has Lee Chia Hao, Chou and Toma Junior Popov.

In men’s doubles, Malaysia will turn up with several of their big names, led by top seeds Aaron Chia/Soh Wooi Yik. Teammates in the draw include Junaidi Arif/Yap Roy King, Goh Sze Fei/Nur Izzuddin, Ong Yew Sin/Teo Ee Yi and Choong Hong Jian/Muhammad Haikal.

UAE pair Dev Ayyappan/Dhiren Ayyappan made the main draw, and they face USA’s Chen Zhi Yi/Presley Smith in the first round.

Other Highlights:

» In women’s singles, Wang Zhi Yi begins her campaign for a first German Open title with a first round against Tasnim Mir.

» In women’s doubles, Stoeva sisters Gabriela and Stefani, who helped Bulgaria win the European Women’s Team Championships, face in-form USA pair Francesca Corbett/Jennie Gai.

» Kaloyana Nalbantova, their compatriot in women’s singles, was promoted from qualifying and will face Polina Buhrova.

Withdrawals

Women’s Singles: Mia Blichfeldt, Line Kjaersfeldt, Manami Suizu

Mixed doubles: Feng Yan Zhe/Huang Dong Ping, Julien Maio/Lea Palermo

Promotions

Women’s singles: Chen Su Yu, Kaloyana Nalbantova, Pai Yu Po

Mixed doubles: Filip Karlborg/Tilda Sjoo, Evgeni Panev/Gabriela Stoeva

Click here to view the updated draw.

YONEX German Open 2026 starts today with the first qualification match scheduled for 5pm Kuala Lumpur time (UTC +8).