“It felt like there was no way I could win,” world number two Akane Yamaguchi admitted after evaluating her recent matches against South Korea’s An Se-young.
Yamaguchi addressed her ongoing struggles against An following her return from the European tour, according to interviews published by the Japanese badminton outlet Badminton Spirit and reported by OSEN. The Japanese star fell short against An once again in the women’s singles final of the 2026 Badminton World Federation (BWF) World Tour Denmark Open, extending her losing streak to ten matches against An.
Tactical Adjustments in the Denmark Open Final
During the Super 750 title match on October 18, Yamaguchi attempted to disrupt An’s rhythm by drastically accelerating her shot-making tempo. Trailing 14-10 in the opening game, the Japanese player realized standard rallies would not yield a breakthrough. By pushing the pace and denying her opponent time to settle, Yamaguchi forced the match into a decisive third game.
However, An countered the high-speed strategy by targeting the deep rear corners of the court, neutralizing Yamaguchi’s fast-paced attacks. Yamaguchi noted that even when hitting from less favorable court positions, An managed to pin her deep in the backcourt, which sapped the speed out of her shots and prevented her from converting attacks into points.
Reflecting on Physical Toll and Tour Conditions
The rigorous autumn schedule, which began with the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games in September and extended through the European swing, left Yamaguchi visibly fatigued. After finishing as the runner-up in Denmark, she suffered a round-of-16 exit at the French Open in Paris, acknowledging that physical and mental exhaustion caught up with her.
Yamaguchi also observed subtle shifts in An’s play during the French leg, noting an increase in unforced errors compared to previous encounters. An competed through physical discomfort in Paris after tweaking her right foot and experiencing Achilles tendon pain during the Denmark Open final, subsequently stepping onto the court in France with tape on her right knee and calf.
Preparation for the Kumamoto Masters
Looking ahead, Yamaguchi plans to prioritize recovery before the BWF World Tour Kumamoto Masters Super 500, which opens on November 10. While acknowledging that quick attacks alone cannot dismantle An’s defensive resilience, Yamaguchi intends to refine her tactical variety and adapt more swiftly to differing arena conditions.
