Shi Yuqi Defeats Alex Lanier To Win Japan Open Title, An Se Young Bags Sixth Title
China's Shi Yuqi has won the Japan Open title, defeating Alex Lanier.
China's former world number one Shi Yuqi clinched the Japan Open title on Sunday, July 20, beating the French defending champion Alex Lanier 21-17, 21-15 in the final.
South Korea's An Se-young overcame China's Wang Zhiyi 21-12, 21-10 in the women's final, bagging a brilliant sixth title in seven tournaments in 2025.
Shi, who was replaced at the top of the men's world rankings by Thailand's Kunlavut Vitidsarn last month, proved too strong for rising star Lanier in Tokyo.
Shi emerged victorious after a well-contested first game and wore down his 20-year-old opponent, ending the match in 50 minutes.
'I wanted to maintain my own pace, and even if I was behind, I knew it was crucial to persevere," said current world number three Shi, who claimed his third title of the year.
'My opponent is young with a lot of physical strength, so I knew I had to stick to my style."
Lanier, who won his first major senior title in Tokyo in 2024 and followed it up with a win at the European Championships three months back, will aim for the world title in front of his home fans in Paris in August. However, he acknowledged feeling pressure in Tokyo as the defending champion.
'I don't think it affects me mentally, but physically, you play with a bit more pressure," he said.
World women's number one An extended her impressive form with a dominating victory over the second-seeded Wang.
An's sole loss in 2025 occurred in the quarters of the Singapore Open in June, when she lost to Chen Yu Fei in straight games.
'I always have areas that need improvement, so I work on those in training," said the 23-year-old An, who won gold at last year's Paris Olympics.
'I challenge myself, and that's what leads to these results—putting in extra effort on the things that need improving."
China's Jiang Zhenbang and Wei Yaxin claimed the mixed doubles title, beating Thailand's Dechapol Puavaranukroh and Suprissara Paewsampran 21-19, 16-21, 21-15 in the final.
China triumphed in women's doubles as well, with the top-seeded pair of Liu Shengshu and Tan Ning defeating Malaysia's Pearly Tan and Thinaah Muralitharan 21-15, 21-14.
South Korea's Kim Won-ho and Seo Seung-jae won the men's doubles final 21-16, 21-17 over Malaysia's Goh Sze Fei and Nur Izzuddin.
(With AFP Inputs)
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