Suwon, South Korea – After months of frustration and three straight defeats in 2025, Akane Yamaguchi finally turned the tide by beating home favorite An Se Young in the Korea Open 2025 women’s singles final, marking her first victory over the Korean star this season and her second Korea Open title, a full nine years after her last win in 2016.
A Rivalry Rekindled
The final was their 29th career meeting, with both players evenly matched at 14–14 before stepping onto the court. An Se Young, the world No.1 and top seed, had claimed all three encounters in 2025 until this pivotal showdown.
But this time, Yamaguchi struck back with authority, winning 21–18, 21–13 in straight games and breaking her losing streak in front of a passionate Korean home crowd.
📺 Watch Highlights of Akane Yamaguchi vs. An Se Young – Korea Open 2025 Final:
How the Match Unfolded
Yamaguchi opened the match in dominant form, jumping to a 15–9 lead with rapid pace and pinpoint accuracy. Despite a spirited fightback from An Se Young that leveled the score at 17–17, the Japanese shuttler stayed composed and closed the first game 21–18.
Riding the momentum, Yamaguchi surged to a 10–4 lead in the second game. Though An clawed her way to within two points, a 10–4 run from Yamaguchi sealed the deal, earning her a 21–13 win and the title after 45 minutes of intense action.
Prize Money & Stats
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Champion: Akane Yamaguchi – USD 35,625 (~RM150,390)
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Runner-up: An Se Young – USD 18,050 (~RM76,197)
Women’s Doubles: Korea Triumphs at Home
In women’s doubles, Kim Hye Jeong / Kong Hee Yong delivered a stunning performance against top-seeded Rin Iwanaga / Kie Nakanishi of Japan, claiming the title with a 21–19, 21–12 straight-game victory.
This marks their second Korea Open title on home soil, having previously won in 2019 (Kong with Kim So Yeong) and 2022 (Kim with Jeong Na Eun).
Meanwhile, it was a third finals appearance in 2025 for the Japanese duo Iwanaga/Nakanishi, but their championship drought continues.
Mixed Doubles: Feng/Huang Secure All-China Final
The mixed doubles final featured an all-Chinese showdown as top seeds Feng Yan Zhe / Huang Dong Ping defeated compatriots Jiang Zhen Bang / Wei Ya Xin in 25–23, 21–11, claiming their 6th title of the year and USD 37,525 (~RM158,410).
The victory also improved Feng/Huang’s head-to-head record to 11–2 over their teammates.
What’s Next?
Akane Yamaguchi’s triumph in Korea sends a strong signal ahead of the year-end BWF Finals, while An Se Young will look to regroup and defend her top ranking. Meanwhile, China and Korea continue to dominate in doubles, setting the stage for exciting clashes ahead in the badminton calendar.
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