Three match points down and staring at another early exit, Weng Hong Yang found something that had been missing for much of 2026 – belief.

The 2024 champion produced the comeback of the opening day, saving three match points at 20-17 before completing a thrilling 15-21 21-17 22-20 victory over men’s singles third seed Anders Antonsen in 84 unforgettable minutes at VICTOR China Open 2026.

It was a finish few inside the Olympic Sports Center Gymnasium saw coming.

Weng had spent most of the afternoon chasing the Dane. After falling 11-6 behind in the opening game, he fought back to level at 14-all before Antonsen regained control. The Chinese player responded with a steadier display in the second game to force a decider but the momentum swung back heavily in Antonsen’s favour as he raced to a commanding 12-4 lead.

Even then, Weng refused to yield.

Patiently chipping away at the deficit, he clawed back into contention before surviving three match points with remarkable composure. Seven minutes shorter than their gripping quarterfinal at the same venue in 2024 – another match won by Weng – this latest chapter was every bit as dramatic.

The victory offers a welcome lift for the world No.18 after a difficult season in which five of his eight tournaments ended in first round defeats, including his last two appearances at the Japan and Indonesia Opens.

“I’m happy to get this win – it’s been a while,” said Weng. “I stayed positive and didn’t give up, even when things got tough. It’s been a long time since I showed this kind of desire and pushed myself under pressure, so this match means a lot to me.

“In the past, I might have fallen apart in similar situations but this time I just faced it head on and kept believing in myself.”

Weng will next face Leong Jun Hao, carrying a 3-1 head-to-head advantage – and, perhaps more importantly, renewed confidence that his fighting spirit has returned.

Earlier, Weng’s compatriot Chen Yu Fei dug deep to survive a scare, battling past Natsuki Nidaira 19-21 21-19 21-18 in a gripping 91-minute contest.

The day’s longest match looked to be slipping away when Chen trailed 15-10 in the deciding game. But the home favourite raced back to level at 16-all and take control.

Despite escaping with the win, Chen admitted she was far from satisfied with her performance.

“I couldn’t really find my rhythm and ended up following hers instead. Still, I’m happy I pulled through. There are clearly plenty of things I need to work on.”

There were questions over Chen’s fitness after she retired during last week’s Japan Open semifinal against Pusarla V. Sindhu with a thigh injury. The world No.4 assured fans the problem is improving.

“I’ve been getting treatment every day and working hard on it.”

Chen could face Sindhu again in the second round if the Indian overcomes compatriot Unnati Hooda on Wednesday.

China Open remains one of the few major prizes missing from Chen’s collection. Her best result came in 2018, when she finished runner-up to Carolina Marin.

→ Results (Day 1)

→ Order of play (Day 2)