Paris, France: Malaysia’s Hoo Pang Ron and Lai Pei Jing kept their French Open campaign alive with a hard-fought three-game victory on Thursday, while world No. 1 An Se Young advanced comfortably and Pearly Tan and Thinaah Muralitharan moved another step closer to consecutive BWF World Tour titles.
Hoo and Lai defeated Chinese Taipei’s Liu Kuang Heng and Hsu Yin-Hui 21-13, 13-21, 21-17 to reach the mixed doubles quarterfinals of the 2026 French Open, a BWF World Tour Super 750 tournament.
In women’s singles, An defeated India’s Tanvi Sharma 21-11, 21-14, while another Indian player, Ashmita Chaliha, produced one of the day’s most notable results by eliminating Japan’s third seed Akane Yamaguchi.
Meanwhile, Pearly and Thinaah overcame fellow Malaysians Ong Xin Yee and Carmen Ting 21-14, 22-20 to book a women’s doubles quarterfinal against Bulgaria’s Gabriela Stoeva and Stefani Stoeva.
Hoo Pang Ron-Lai Pei Jing Survive Three-Game Battle
Hoo Pang Ron and Lai Pei Jing were pushed to three games before securing their place in the French Open mixed doubles quarterfinals.
The Malaysian pair began strongly against Chinese Taipei’s Liu Kuang Heng and Hsu Yin-Hui, taking the opening game 21-13.
However, Liu and Hsu responded with an equally convincing 21-13 victory in the second game, forcing a decider.
With the match level at one game apiece, Hoo and Lai recovered to claim the deciding game 21-17 and complete the victory.
The result gives the Malaysian combination another opportunity to compete for a place in the semifinals after reaching the last four at the Denmark Open the previous week.
Hoo-Lai to Face Marvin Seidel-Thuc Phuong Nguyen
Hoo and Lai will next meet Germany’s Marvin Seidel and Thuc Phuong Nguyen, who eliminated China’s second seeds Jiang Zhen Bang and Wei Ya Xin in another closely contested three-game match.
Seidel and Nguyen won 21-17, 14-21, 22-20, surviving a particularly tight deciding game to secure their quarterfinal place.
The victory represents a significant result for the German pair against one of China’s leading mixed doubles combinations.
Jiang and Wei had won the Denmark Open title just four days earlier, defeating compatriots Feng Yan Zhe and Huang Dong Ping in the final.
Friday’s quarterfinal between Hoo/Lai and Seidel/Nguyen is scheduled for October 23 on Court 2, with an estimated start time of 11:10 a.m. local time.
An Se Young Continues Winning Run at French Open
South Korea’s An Se Young advanced to the women’s singles quarterfinals with a straight-game victory over India’s Tanvi Sharma.
The top seed won 21-11, 21-14, taking both games without needing a decider.
Watch Highlights of An Se Young vs. Tanvi Sharma in the 2026 French Open Second Round:
Source: Sogna Kana
An arrived in Paris after winning the Denmark Open women’s singles title on Sunday, defeating Japan’s Akane Yamaguchi 21-23, 21-14, 21-18 in a three-game final.
Her victory over Sharma keeps her campaign for another World Tour title on course.
The Korean star will next face China’s seventh seed Han Yue, who needed three games to overcome Denmark’s Mia Blichfeldt.
Han Yue Recovers to Beat Mia Blichfeldt
Han Yue secured her place in the quarterfinals after recovering from a difficult opening game against Denmark’s Mia Blichfeldt.
Blichfeldt took the first game 21-11, putting the Chinese seventh seed under immediate pressure.
Han responded by winning the second game 21-13 before completing the comeback with a 21-8 victory in the decider.
The result sets up a quarterfinal against world No. 1 An Se Young, with the match scheduled for October 23 on Court 1 at 9:30 a.m. local time.
Ashmita Chaliha Stuns Akane Yamaguchi
India’s Ashmita Chaliha produced one of the biggest surprises of the French Open second round, defeating Japan’s third seed Akane Yamaguchi 21-19, 21-18.
Chaliha took the opening game by just two points before maintaining her advantage in another competitive second game.
Yamaguchi, a former world champion and the previous week’s Denmark Open runner-up, was unable to force a decider.
The straight-game defeat ended the Japanese star’s campaign earlier than expected, while Chaliha advanced to the quarterfinals with a notable victory over seeded opposition.
Chaliha will next face Japan’s Nozomi Okuhara, who also came through a demanding second-round match.
Nozomi Okuhara Wins Marathon Second Game Against Pornpawee
Former world champion Nozomi Okuhara defeated Thailand’s eighth seed Pornpawee Chochuwong 16-21, 29-27, 21-12 in one of the closest women’s singles contests of the round.
Pornpawee claimed the opening game 21-16, but Okuhara fought back in an extended second game that reached 29-27.
Having forced a decider, Okuhara completed the comeback by winning the third game 21-12.
The Japanese player will now meet Ashmita Chaliha for a place in the semifinals.
Their quarterfinal is scheduled for October 23 on Court 2 at 9:30 a.m. local time.
Pearly Tan-Thinaah Muralitharan Win All-Malaysian Clash
Malaysia’s Pearly Tan and Thinaah Muralitharan continued their strong form with a 21-14, 22-20 victory over compatriots Ong Xin Yee and Carmen Ting.
Watch Highlights of Pearly Tan/Thinaah Muralitharan vs. Ong Xin Yee/Carmen Ting in the 2026 French Open Second Round:
Source: Badminton Pro
The second seeds took the opening game 21-14, but Ong and Ting provided a much closer challenge in the second.
Pearly and Thinaah eventually edged the second game 22-20, avoiding a decider and securing their quarterfinal place.
The victory came just four days after Pearly and Thinaah won the Denmark Open women’s doubles title, ending Malaysia’s 18-year wait for success in that event.
They defeated Japan’s Hinata Suzuki and Nao Yamakita 21-18, 21-11 in Sunday’s final in Odense.
Having already captured the Denmark Open crown, Pearly and Thinaah will be looking to extend their winning run in Paris.
Pearly-Thinaah to Meet Bulgaria’s Stoeva Sisters
Pearly and Thinaah will face Bulgaria’s Gabriela Stoeva and Stefani Stoeva in the French Open quarterfinals.
The eighth-seeded Bulgarian sisters advanced after defeating South Korea’s Kim Yu Jung and Lee Yu Lim 21-10, 21-13.
The Stoevas won both games comfortably to secure their place in the last eight.
Friday’s quarterfinal between Pearly/Thinaah and the Stoeva sisters is scheduled on Court 1, with an estimated start time of 5:20 p.m. local time.
The Malaysian pair will be aiming to reach another semifinal as they continue their European campaign following last week’s Denmark Open triumph.
Yuki Fukushima-Mayu Matsumoto Advance for Japan
Japan’s top-seeded women’s doubles pair Yuki Fukushima and Mayu Matsumoto also progressed to the quarterfinals.
They defeated the United States combination of Lauren Lam and Allison Quynh Lee 21-12, 21-19.
The Japanese pair controlled the opening game before facing a closer contest in the second, which they secured by two points.
Fukushima and Matsumoto will next face Indonesia’s Amallia Cahaya Pratiwi and Siti Fadia Silva Ramadhanti.
Amallia Cahaya Pratiwi-Siti Fadia Silva Ramadhanti Reach Last Eight
Indonesia’s Amallia Cahaya Pratiwi and Siti Fadia Silva Ramadhanti secured their quarterfinal place with a 22-20, 21-8 victory over Chinese Taipei’s Lin Chih-Chun and Yang Chu Yun.
The opening game was closely contested, with the Indonesians eventually prevailing 22-20.
They then established a much wider margin in the second game, winning 21-8 to complete the straight-game victory.
Pratiwi and Ramadhanti will now face Japan’s top seeds Fukushima and Matsumoto for a place in the semifinals.
The match is scheduled for October 23 on Court 1, with an estimated start time of 6:10 p.m. local time.
Feng Yan Zhe-Huang Dong Ping Remain in Contention
China’s top-seeded mixed doubles pair Feng Yan Zhe and Huang Dong Ping advanced with a 21-15, 21-12 victory over Spain’s Ruben Garcia and Lucia Rodriguez.
The Chinese combination won both games to reach the quarterfinals without dropping a game.
Feng and Huang, who finished runners-up at the Denmark Open last weekend, will next meet Indonesia’s Amri Syahnawi and Nita Violina Marwah.
The Indonesian pair defeated Chinese Taipei’s seventh seeds Ye Hong Wei and Nicole Gonzales Chan 21-14, 21-12.
The quarterfinal between Feng/Huang and Syahnawi/Marwah is scheduled for October 23 on Court 2, not before 4:30 p.m. local time.
French Open 2026 Quarterfinals to Watch
Mixed Doubles
Hoo Pang Ron/Lai Pei Jing (Malaysia) vs. Marvin Seidel/Thuc Phuong Nguyen (Germany) – October 23, Court 2, estimated 11:10 a.m.
Feng Yan Zhe/Huang Dong Ping (China) vs. Amri Syahnawi/Nita Violina Marwah (Indonesia) – October 23, Court 2, not before 4:30 p.m.
Women’s Singles
An Se Young (South Korea) vs. Han Yue (China) – October 23, Court 1, 9:30 a.m.
Ashmita Chaliha (India) vs. Nozomi Okuhara (Japan) – October 23, Court 2, 9:30 a.m.
Women’s Doubles
Gabriela Stoeva/Stefani Stoeva (Bulgaria) vs. Pearly Tan/Thinaah Muralitharan (Malaysia) – October 23, Court 1, estimated 5:20 p.m.
Yuki Fukushima/Mayu Matsumoto (Japan) vs. Amallia Cahaya Pratiwi/Siti Fadia Silva Ramadhanti (Indonesia) – October 23, Court 1, estimated 6:10 p.m.
All match times are local to France and may change depending on the tournament’s order of play.
Complete Tournament Results
Women’s Singles – Round of 16
An Se Young (South Korea) defeated Tanvi Sharma (India), 21-11, 21-14.
Han Yue (China) defeated Mia Blichfeldt (Denmark), 11-21, 21-13, 21-8.
Ashmita Chaliha (India) defeated Akane Yamaguchi (Japan), 21-19, 21-18.
Nozomi Okuhara (Japan) defeated Pornpawee Chochuwong (Thailand), 16-21, 29-27, 21-12.
Women’s Doubles – Round of 16
Gabriela Stoeva/Stefani Stoeva (Bulgaria) defeated Kim Yu Jung/Lee Yu Lim (South Korea), 21-10, 21-13.
Pearly Tan/Thinaah Muralitharan (Malaysia) defeated Ong Xin Yee/Carmen Ting (Malaysia), 21-14, 22-20.
Yuki Fukushima/Mayu Matsumoto (Japan) defeated Lauren Lam/Allison Quynh Lee (United States), 21-12, 21-19.
Amallia Cahaya Pratiwi/Siti Fadia Silva Ramadhanti (Indonesia) defeated Lin Chih-Chun/Yang Chu Yun (Chinese Taipei), 22-20, 21-8.
Mixed Doubles – Round of 16
Hoo Pang Ron/Lai Pei Jing (Malaysia) defeated Liu Kuang Heng/Hsu Yin-Hui (Chinese Taipei), 21-13, 13-21, 21-17.
Marvin Seidel/Thuc Phuong Nguyen (Germany) defeated Jiang Zhen Bang/Wei Ya Xin (China), 21-17, 14-21, 22-20.
Feng Yan Zhe/Huang Dong Ping (China) defeated Ruben Garcia/Lucia Rodriguez (Spain), 21-15, 21-12.
Amri Syahnawi/Nita Violina Marwah (Indonesia) defeated Ye Hong Wei/Nicole Gonzales Chan (Chinese Taipei), 21-14, 21-12.
