Kuala Lumpur: South Korea’s world number one women’s singles player, An Se-young, showcased her dominance as she claimed the women’s singles title at the 2025 Malaysia Open, defeating China’s Wang Zhiyi in straight sets, 21-17, 21-7. This victory not only marks her successful title defense but also her first championship of the 2025 season.
Highlights of An Se-young vs. Wang Zhiyi in 2025 Malaysia Open final:
The 22-year-old reigning Olympic gold medalist had an exceptional 2024 season, capturing four titles, including the prestigious Paris Olympics. After defeating Thailand’s Ratchanok Intanon in the semifinals on Saturday, An was just one win away from retaining her Malaysia Open crown.
Wang Zhiyi, who finished last season as the BWF World Tour Finals champion and claimed six titles in 2024, entered the final as China’s top-ranked player. However, An Se-young held a strong head-to-head advantage, winning eight of their previous 12 encounters.
An Se-young’s Commanding Performance
The opening game was closely contested, with both players trading points. Wang edged ahead at the interval, leading 11-10. However, An seized momentum after the break, reeling off nine consecutive points to take an 18-11 lead. Despite Wang saving one game point, An closed out the first game 21-17 with a clever net shot.
In the second game, An unleashed her full offensive arsenal, racing to an 11-2 lead at the interval. Wang attempted a comeback but was unable to match An’s pace and precision. An secured match point with a powerful smash, and Wang’s final return went wide, giving An a decisive 21-7 victory in just 40 minutes.
Other Finals Results
Women’s Doubles: Japan’s Yuki Fukushima and Mayu Matsumoto staged a remarkable comeback to defeat China’s Jia Yifan and Zhang Shuxian in three games, 17-21, 21-15, 21-15.
Fukushima is widely recognized for her former partnership with Sayaka Hirota, a duo that once held the world number one ranking in women’s doubles. However, following Hirota’s knee surgery after the Paris Olympics last year, the pair parted ways. Fukushima then joined forces with Mayu Matsumoto, who previously partnered with Wakana Nagahara before Nagahara’s retirement from international competition, to continue competing on the global stage.
Mixed Doubles: Thailand’s Dechapol Puavaranukroh and Supissara Paewsampran triumphed over China’s Huang Dongping and Feng Yanzhe in a thrilling three-set battle, 21-13, 19-21, 21-18.
