South Korean badminton player An Se-young advanced to the final of the BWF World Tour 2026 French Open at the Arena Grand Paris in Paris, defeating Japan’s Nozomi Okuhara 21-12, 21-19 in the semifinals, according to regional reports.
An Se-young Defeats Nozomi Okuhara in Paris Semifinals
An Se-young secured her spot in the French Open final by overcoming Nozomi Okuhara of Japan in straight games, 21-12, 21-19. The semifinal match in Paris followed a previous meeting between the two players just a week prior at the Denmark Open semifinals, where An also won in straight games before capturing the tournament title.
During the first game in Paris, An established control through defensive stability and cross-court shots. In the second game, Okuhara mounted a challenge, building a 7-3 lead before An responded with seven consecutive points. Okuhara narrowed the margin to 20-19 before An claimed the final point to close out the match.
Chasing a Tenth Title Amid a 49-Match Winning Streak
With her semifinal victory, An extended her winning streak to 49 matches. Her record for the season stands at 65 wins and one loss, yielding a 98.48 percent win rate. Indonesian sports outlet Kabarbaik reported on the reaction of international fans to her sustained run, noting that one spectator suggested jokingly that she should compete in the men’s singles division because competition in the women’s bracket has become scarce.
YONEX French Open 2026WS – SF21 21 🇰🇷AN Se Young🏅12 19 🇯🇵Nozomi OKUHARA🕚 in 45 minutes
An’s current form builds on a multi-year run of success. In 2023, she claimed eight World Tour titles alongside victories at the World Championships and the Asian Games. She added four World Tour titles and an Olympic gold medal at the Paris Games in 2024, followed by 11 titles in 2025.
Managing Physical Fatigue Through the Tournament
An addressed her physical condition following her quarterfinal victory over China’s Han Yue. She acknowledged accumulating fatigue from a packed schedule but emphasized her motivation to compete and perform.
“I am very grateful to be able to play,” An said after her quarterfinal match, noting that she tries not to dwell on physical tiredness because her desire to play good matches remains high. Her path to the final also included straight-game wins over Han Yue and Tanvi Sharma earlier in the tournament.
The Next Challenge Against Pusarla V. Sindhu
An advances to face India’s veteran player Pusarla V. Sindhu, who is ranked No. 11 globally, in the French Open final. Observers project An to maintain her momentum against Sindhu as she targets her French Open 3-peat and her tenth tournament victory of the 2026 season.
