Hangzhou — World No. 1 An Se Young delivered another statement performance to close out a historic season, defeating China’s Wang Zhiyi in the women’s singles final of the 2025 BWF World Tour Finals to capture her 11th title of the year.
In a high-quality three-game showdown, the Korean star prevailed 21-13, 18-21, 21-10, adding the prestigious year-ending crown to an already remarkable 2025 campaign.
Watch highlights of An Se Young vs. Wang Zhiyi here:
Tactical Control and Mental Strength on Display
The final marked An Se Young’s second World Tour Finals title, following her first triumph in 2021, and underlined her consistency on the sport’s biggest stages.
Wang Zhiyi made a strong start in the opening game, briefly surging ahead with a six-point run. An Se Young responded immediately, reasserting control with an eight-point streak of her own and closing out the game with clinical precision.
The second game swung Wang’s way after a tense mid-game battle, as the Chinese shuttler raised her tempo and capitalized on narrow openings to level the match.
In the decider, An Se Young elevated her intensity once more. After edging ahead 8–6, she produced a decisive 7–0 burst, breaking Wang’s resistance and sealing victory despite visible fatigue late in the match.
Numbers That Define a Historic Season
With the win, An Se Young concluded the 2025 season with a staggering 73 wins from 77 matches, translating to a win rate approaching 96%, the highest ever recorded in women’s singles at this level.
The victory also saw her surpass the USD 1 million mark in prize money for a single season, making her the first player in badminton history to achieve the milestone. Including the USD 240,000 winner’s cheque from the World Tour Finals, her total earnings for the year exceeded USD 1.0 million.
Her dominance extended beyond titles and prize money, as her season-long winning percentage eclipsed legendary figures such as Lin Dan and Lee Chong Wei, who both recorded peak single-season win rates of 92.75%.
Post-Match Reflections
Speaking after the final, An Se Young expressed gratitude for finishing the season in good health.
“To complete the year without a serious injury is something I’m truly thankful for,” she said. “At the end, my body was completely exhausted, which is why the cramping happened, but I’m proud I pushed through.”
She also praised Wang Zhiyi’s competitiveness, calling her “a benchmark opponent” and acknowledging the fine margins that often separate them.
“Our matches are always decided by form on the day. That’s why I can never relax against her.”
Other Finals Results
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Women’s Doubles: Baek Ha-na / Lee So-hee defeated Yuki Fukushima / Mayu Matsumoto 21-17, 21-11
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Mixed Doubles: Feng Yanzhe / Huang Dongping beat Jiang Zhenbang / Wei Yaxin 21-12, 21-17
With records shattered and milestones reached, An Se Young’s 2025 season stands as one of the most dominant campaigns in modern badminton history, setting a new benchmark as the sport turns toward 2026.
