Mülheim an der Ruhr, Germany – Matthias Kicklitz’s impressive run at the YONEX German Open Badminton Championships came to an end on Thursday, February 26, 2026, with a straight-sets loss to Weng Hong Yang of China. Despite the defeat, the German player expressed gratitude for the enthusiastic home crowd support he received throughout the tournament.
The 23-year-aged Kicklitz, a three-time German national champion, fell to the fifth-seeded Weng, ranked 16th in the world, 15-21, 12-21 in the round of 16 at the Westenergie Sporthalle. “It wasn’t a terrible match, but I had hoped for a little more,” Kicklitz said, reflecting on his first appearance in the main draw of the prestigious tournament. “I stood here for the first time in the main field and the support was cool. Playing in front of a home crowd and having the whole audience behind you is mega. I am still a little disappointed.”
Kicklitz’s journey to the round of 16 was marked by a significant upset victory on Wednesday, February 25th, where he defeated Finland’s Kalle Koljonen, ranked 53rd, in a thrilling three-game match: 23-21, 11-21, 21-4. The win was particularly meaningful as it was Kicklitz’s first in the main draw of the YONEX German Open.
Hannes Käsbauer, head coach of the German Badminton Association (DBV), praised Kicklitz for capitalizing on his wildcard opportunity. “Matthias has used his wildcard chance and achieved a very nice win yesterday,” Käsbauer commented. Kicklitz, currently ranked 83rd in the world by the Badminton World Federation (BWF), earned a special entry into the HSBC BWF World Tour Super 300 event.
While Kicklitz’s tournament concluded with the loss to Weng Hong Yang, the YONEX German Open continues without any remaining German players in the singles competitions. Käsbauer acknowledged the team’s overall performance, noting the strong atmosphere despite the lack of quarterfinalists. “Unfortunately, we haven’t reached the quarter-finals again. Especially since This represents a home tournament and the atmosphere is so good, that’s a shame. Of course, our top players weren’t there in women’s singles and mixed doubles, but we still had a lot of people in action. And we similarly had our chances! The two mixed doubles matches on Wednesday, for example, were good, and Miranda Wilson achieved a very nice win in qualification on the first day of the event,” he said.
Käsbauer emphasized the DBV’s commitment to developing young talent. “We have young talents and will consistently pursue the path we have taken and continue to work hard to do better in the future.”
Top Stars Advance to Quarterfinals
The quarterfinal stage of the YONEX German Open 2026, beginning on Friday, February 27th, will feature several prominent international players. Fans can anticipate seeing France’s Christo Popov and Toma Junior Popov competing in the men’s singles, alongside Kim Astrup and Anders Skaarup Rasmussen of Denmark, the current World Championship bronze medalists in men’s doubles. In women’s doubles, Bulgaria’s Gabriela Stoeva and Stefani Stoeva, four-time European champions, will also be in action. Rounding out the top contenders are Hong Kong’s Tang Chun Man and Tse Ying Suet, the seventh-ranked mixed doubles pair and 2024 tournament winners.
Additional Information
Further details regarding the YONEX German Open 2026, including the schedule and ticket prices, are available on the official tournament website: www.german-open-badminton.de.
YONEX is celebrating its 38th consecutive year as the main and title sponsor of the International Badminton Championships of Germany. The YONEX German Open also receives support from Westenergie, the namesake of the venue.
The results of the YONEX German Open 2026
The livestream of the YONEX German Open 2026
The tournament continues with the quarterfinal matches on Friday, February 27th, promising further exciting competition and showcasing the world’s best badminton talent. Fans can follow the action live through the provided links and stay updated on the tournament’s progress.
