Anders Antonsen Stages Comeback Win as Favorites Crash Out of China Masters

Antonsen Overcomes Slow Start

Anders Antonsen faced an immediate test during his opening match late Tuesday evening CET, dropping a tight first set 19-21 to Hu Zhean. The fifth-seeded Dane regrouped quickly in the second and third frames, conceding just 11 and 16 points respectively to seal the three-set win. The victory provides a vital rebound for Antonsen following a disappointing quarter-final exit at the World Championships against Kodai Naraoka.

With several top contenders exiting early in China, the upper half of the singles bracket presents significant opportunities for players seeking momentum.

Favorites Crash Out in Early Round Upsets

The opening rounds delivered dramatic shifts as several major contenders bowed out of the competition. Former Chinese World No. 1 Shi Yuqi suffered a swift and decisive defeat, falling in straight sets 11-21, 10-21 to Loh Kean Yew.

Meanwhile, Thailand’s Kunlavut Vitidsarn survived a major scare in his opening match. The player found himself on the brink of elimination before battling through a tense deciding frame to secure a 22-20 victory in the third set, avoiding the fate of fellow tournament favorites.

Gemke Exits After Straight-Sets Defeat

Danish representation in the later rounds took another hit as Rasmus Gemke exited the tournament following a first-round defeat. Gemke, who posted a stellar run at the recent World Championships in India, failed to recapture that tournament form against Japan’s Kenta Nishimoto.

Nishimoto controlled the pace from the outset, handing the Dane a straight-sets loss with scores of 21-17, 21-14.

Next Steps

Tournament play continues at the BWF Lingshui China Masters 2026 with subsequent round matches scheduled through the week as the surviving contenders vie for the title. Fans can follow official BWF live scores and updates for match schedules and court assignments.