Paris, France, October 23: Malaysia’s Goh Sze Fei and Nur Izzuddin delivered one of the biggest results of the 2026 French Open on Friday, defeating world No. 1 Kim Won Ho and Seo Seung Jae of South Korea 21-15, 21-18 to reach the men’s doubles semifinals.
The sixth-seeded Malaysians joined compatriots Man Wei Chong and Tee Kai Wun in the last four of the BWF World Tour Super 750 tournament, setting up two Malaysia-Indonesia semifinals at Arena Grand Paris.
Goh and Izzuddin will face Indonesia’s Leo Rolly Carnando and Daniel Marthin, while Man and Tee will meet Raymond Indra and Nikolaus Joaquin.
In men’s singles, Denmark Open champion Alex Lanier and fellow French player Christo Popov advanced to the semifinals, keeping home hopes alive in Paris. Indonesia’s Moh. Zaki Ubaidillah and China’s Hu Zhe An completed the last-four lineup.
Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Stun World No. 1 Kim Won Ho-Seo Seung Jae
Goh Sze Fei and Nur Izzuddin produced an impressive straight-game victory over South Korea’s top seeds Kim Won Ho and Seo Seung Jae, winning 21-15, 21-18 in the French Open quarterfinals.
The Malaysians took the opening game by six points before overcoming a closer challenge in the second to complete the victory without needing a decider.
The result improved Goh and Izzuddin’s head-to-head record against the Korean combination to three wins and four defeats.
It also provided a measure of revenge for the Malaysians, who had lost to Kim and Seo in the quarterfinals of the 2026 BWF World Championships in August.
The Korean pair had entered the tournament as the world’s top-ranked men’s doubles combination and had already eliminated Malaysia’s Arctic Open champions Aaron Tai and Yap Roy King in the second round.
Goh and Izzuddin, however, ended their campaign in the last eight with one of their most significant victories of the season.
Watch Highlights: Goh Sze Fei/Nur Izzuddin vs. Kim Won Ho/Seo Seung Jae – 2026 French Open Quarterfinal
Video source: BWF
Goh-Izzuddin to Face Leo Rolly Carnando-Daniel Marthin
Goh and Izzuddin will next meet Indonesia’s Leo Rolly Carnando and Daniel Marthin for a place in Sunday’s French Open final.
The Indonesian pair advanced after defeating South Korea’s Kang Min Hyuk and Lee Jongmin 21-14, 21-19.
Carnando and Marthin secured the opening game by seven points before edging a tighter second game to complete the straight-game victory.
For Goh and Izzuddin, the semifinal offers an opportunity to build on their victory over the world No. 1 pair and reach another major World Tour final.
Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun Advance After Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik Retire
Malaysia is guaranteed another men’s doubles semifinal appearance through Man Wei Chong and Tee Kai Wun, although their quarterfinal against compatriots Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik ended prematurely.
Man and Tee were leading 5-0 in the opening game when Aaron and Soh retired from the match.
The retirement handed Man and Tee a place in the semifinals, but the match did not produce a completed game score.
Aaron and Soh had reached the quarterfinals after receiving a walkover from Thailand’s Peeratchai Sukphun and Pakkapon Teeraratsakul in the second round.
Man and Tee, meanwhile, had defeated Japan’s former world champions Takuro Hoki and Yugo Kobayashi 25-23, 21-14 to reach the last eight.
The circumstances of Friday’s all-Malaysian quarterfinal were unfortunate for Aaron and Soh, while Man and Tee now have an opportunity to continue their French Open campaign in the semifinals.
Man-Tee Set for Semifinal Against Raymond Indra-Nikolaus Joaquin
Man Wei Chong and Tee Kai Wun will face Indonesia’s Raymond Indra and Nikolaus Joaquin in the other men’s doubles semifinal.
The Indonesian combination defeated China’s Hu Ke Yuan and Lin Xiang Yi 23-21, 21-18 in their quarterfinal.
Indra and Joaquin edged a closely contested opening game before securing the second 21-18.
The result means both men’s doubles semifinals will feature Malaysian pairs against Indonesian opponents.
With Goh/Izzuddin and Man/Tee occupying opposite halves of the draw, an all-Malaysian French Open men’s doubles final remains possible if both combinations win their semifinal matches.
Alex Lanier Comes From Behind to Beat Toma Junior Popov
France’s Alex Lanier continued his strong European campaign with a three-game victory over compatriot Toma Junior Popov in the men’s singles quarterfinals.
Lanier, the seventh seed, recovered from losing the opening game to win 16-21, 21-16, 21-16 in a 71-minute contest.
Popov took the first game 21-16, putting Lanier under pressure in front of the home crowd.
Lanier responded by taking the second game by the same margin before completing the comeback with another 21-16 victory in the decider.
The win followed Lanier’s Denmark Open triumph the previous weekend, when he defeated Denmark’s Anders Antonsen in the men’s singles final.
Having reached the French Open semifinals, Lanier is now one victory away from appearing in consecutive World Tour finals.
Moh. Zaki Ubaidillah Continues Impressive French Open Run
Indonesia’s Moh. Zaki Ubaidillah will be Lanier’s semifinal opponent after defeating Chinese Taipei’s Chi Yu Jen 21-15, 21-13.
The Indonesian won both games to reach the last four, continuing an impressive tournament in which he had already defeated compatriot Jonatan Christie in the opening round and Japan’s Koki Watanabe in the second.
His quarterfinal victory over Chi, who had eliminated fifth seed Chou Tien Chen in the previous round, gives him another opportunity to test himself against one of the leading players on the World Tour.
The semifinal against Lanier will determine which player advances to Sunday’s men’s singles final.
Hu Zhe An Beats Alwi Farhan to Reach Semifinals
China’s Hu Zhe An advanced to the French Open men’s singles semifinals after defeating Indonesia’s Alwi Farhan 21-19, 21-12.
Hu faced a closely contested opening game, eventually prevailing 21-19 before establishing a wider margin in the second.
The Chinese player completed the straight-game victory in 44 minutes to become China’s remaining representative in the men’s singles draw.
He will next face France’s Christo Popov for a place in the final.
Watch Highlights: Hu Zhe An vs. Alwi Farhan – 2026 French Open Quarterfinal
Video source: BWF
Christo Popov Defeats Kodai Naraoka as France Secures Two Semifinalists
France’s Christo Popov completed the home nation’s men’s singles semifinal lineup with a 21-15, 21-16 victory over Japan’s sixth seed Kodai Naraoka.
Popov, seeded third, took the opening game 21-15 before closing out the second 21-16.
Naraoka had advanced through the previous two rounds following retirements by his opponents, but his campaign ended against the French player in the quarterfinals.
With Popov and Lanier both progressing, France will have two representatives in the men’s singles semifinals.
Lanier faces Indonesia’s Moh. Zaki Ubaidillah, while Popov meets China’s Hu Zhe An.
French Open 2026 Men’s Singles and Doubles Semifinal Lineup
Men’s Doubles
Goh Sze Fei/Nur Izzuddin (Malaysia) vs. Leo Rolly Carnando/Daniel Marthin (Indonesia)
Man Wei Chong/Tee Kai Wun (Malaysia) vs. Raymond Indra/Nikolaus Joaquin (Indonesia)
Men’s Singles
Alex Lanier (France) vs. Moh. Zaki Ubaidillah (Indonesia)
Christo Popov (France) vs. Hu Zhe An (China)
The semifinals will be played on Saturday, October 24, with places in Sunday’s French Open finals at stake.
Complete Tournament Results
Men’s Doubles – Quarterfinals
Goh Sze Fei/Nur Izzuddin (Malaysia) defeated Kim Won Ho/Seo Seung Jae (South Korea), 21-15, 21-18.
Leo Rolly Carnando/Daniel Marthin (Indonesia) defeated Kang Min Hyuk/Lee Jongmin (South Korea), 21-14, 21-19.
Man Wei Chong/Tee Kai Wun (Malaysia) advanced over Aaron Chia/Soh Wooi Yik (Malaysia) by retirement, with Man/Tee leading 5-0 in the opening game. No game was completed.
Raymond Indra/Nikolaus Joaquin (Indonesia) defeated Hu Ke Yuan/Lin Xiang Yi (China), 23-21, 21-18.
Men’s Singles – Quarterfinals
Alex Lanier (France) defeated Toma Junior Popov (France), 16-21, 21-16, 21-16.
Moh. Zaki Ubaidillah (Indonesia) defeated Chi Yu Jen (Chinese Taipei), 21-15, 21-13.
Hu Zhe An (China) defeated Alwi Farhan (Indonesia), 21-19, 21-12.
Christo Popov (France) defeated Kodai Naraoka (Japan), 21-15, 21-16.
