Kuala Lumpur: On January 11, the 2025 Malaysia Open saw thrilling performances as China’s Shi Yuqi defeated teammate Li Shifeng in a grueling men’s singles semifinal, securing his spot in the final with a 2-1 victory.
The match began with intense exchanges. Shi Yuqi’s aggressive play earned him the first two points, but Li Shifeng quickly equalized. Shi regained momentum, pulling ahead to a 5-2 lead. Adjusting his strategy, Li took control and led 11-8 at the mid-game interval. Maintaining his edge, Li closed out the first game 21-16.
Highlights of Shi Yuqi vs. Li Shifeng in the 2025 Malaysia Open semifinal:
In the second game, Shi Yuqi found his rhythm, unleashing a series of powerful shots to dominate the court. Despite Li’s efforts to respond, Shi surged to a commanding 21-5 win, leveling the match at 1-1.
The deciding game saw Shi continue his relentless attack, establishing an 11-5 lead at the interval. Although Li attempted a comeback, Shi’s consistency and precision prevailed, securing a 21-12 victory and his place in the men’s singles final. Shi will face Denmark’s Anders Antonsen in the championship match.
An Se-young Just One Win Away from Malaysia Open Title Defense
South Korea’s women’s singles world number one, An Se-young, moved closer to defending her Malaysia Open title after defeating Thailand’s Ratchanok Intanon in the women’s singles semifinal. An claimed a convincing 21-14, 21-18 win, marking her ninth consecutive victory over Ratchanok.
The 22-year-old Korean star started strong, racing to a 9-2 lead. Despite Ratchanok’s efforts to narrow the gap to 10-9, An’s powerful smashes and quick pace allowed her to lead 11-9 at the interval. After the break, An accelerated her attacks, forcing Ratchanok into errors and taking the first game 21-14.
In the second game, An maintained her momentum, opening with a 5-1 lead. Ratchanok showed resilience, closing the gap to 7-6, but An responded with a four-point streak to lead 11-6 at the interval. Although Ratchanok fought back to trail 16-18, her attempts to find sharper angles led to unforced errors. An seized the opportunity, closing out the match 21-18.
This win highlights An’s dominance in their head-to-head encounters, with Ratchanok’s last victory dating back to the 2019 Sudirman Cup. An will now aim to secure her second consecutive Malaysia Open title in the final against Wang Zhi Yi of China.
