World number two Akane Yamaguchi exited the 2026 BWF World Tour French Open in Paris after a straight-game defeat to 36th-ranked Ashmita Chaliha of India in the women’s singles 16th round.
French Open Sixteenth Round Defeat in Paris
Akane Yamaguchi lost 0-2 (19-21, 18-21) to Ashmita Chaliha on October 22, 2026, at the Arena Grand Paris in Paris, France. The match lasted 37 minutes, eliminating the Japanese player before she could reach a projected semifinal meeting with South Korea’s An Se-young.
In the opening game, Yamaguchi built an 18-14 lead before conceding four consecutive points to allow an 18-18 tie, eventually dropping the frame 19-21. The second game followed a similar trajectory as Yamaguchi fell behind after a 7-7 deadlock, giving up six straight points. A brief four-point rally fell short as Chaliha closed out the match with a three-point margin.
An Se-Young Eyes Record Title After Defeating Tanvi Sharma
Yamaguchi’s early exit removes a primary obstacle for An Se-young. An advanced to the quarterfinals by defeating India’s Tanvi Sharma 2-0 (21-11, 21-14) in her own 16th-round fixture. An prepares to face China’s Han Yue in the next round.
The tournament bracket positions An for a potential French Open 3-peat, having won the event in both 2024 and 2025. Her recent victory at the Denmark Open marked her 47th career title, surpassing Indonesia’s Susi Susanti for the women’s singles record. A continued run in Paris would mark her 48th career title and her 10th victory of the season.
Recent Head-to-Head Context Against An Se-young
The elimination arrives shortly after a sequence of encounters between Yamaguchi and An. Yamaguchi entered the French Open carrying a ten-match losing streak against her South Korean rival, including a defeat in the final of the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games and a three-game loss in the Denmark Open final on October 18.
The Denmark Open final stretched to one hour and 17 minutes, with An overcoming an 11-5 deficit in the deciding game to secure the trophy. Despite that loss, Yamaguchi reclaimed the world number two ranking ahead of China’s Wang Zhiyi prior to the French Open fixtures.
Upcoming Quarterfinal Matches
An Se-young faces Han Yue of China in the women’s singles quarterfinals at the Arena Grand Paris in Paris. Ashmita Chaliha advances to face her next opponent in the tournament schedule.
