Christo Popov became the first French player in 80 years to win the French Open badminton tournament, defeating Indonesia’s Mohammad Zaki Ubaidillah in a three-game final at the Arena Grand Paris in Tremblay-en-France.
Victory at the Arena Grand Paris
Popov claimed the title with a 21-11, 14-21, 21-13 victory lasting one hour and one minute. The win marks his second career Super 750 tournament victory, following his triumph at the Japan Open in July. The victory also avenged fellow Frenchman Alex Lanier, whom Ubaidillah had previously defeated in the tournament.
The Sofia-born player started strongly, winning the first five exchanges of the opening game and maintaining his aggressive pace to close out the first set 21-11. Ubaidillah responded in the second set, stringing together eight consecutive points and seizing control to level the match with a 21-14 win. In the deciding third set, after a tight opening sequence, Popov used a 9-0 run fueled by the home crowd to pull away, ultimately sealing the championship on his first match point.
Climbing to the Top of the BWF Rankings
Beyond the historic domestic title, the win carries major implications for the global badminton rankings. When the Badminton World Federation updates its standings, Popov will claim the number one position in the world rankings. This achievement comes one year after Popov lost the French Open final to Anders Antonsen at the same stage.
Popov’s victory extends a strong run of form for French badminton following Lanier’s title at the Denmark Open the previous week. Popov now holds the responsibility of defending his new ranking position in upcoming international fixtures.
Popov Secures Victory After Three Phases of Play
The final unfolded across three distinct phases over 61 minutes of play. Popov established early dominance in the first game before Ubaidillah countered with tactical adjustments in the second. The decisive third set featured a critical shift in tempo after Mohammad Zaki Ubaidillah led three points to two, during which Popov secured a commanding eight-point cushion that the Indonesian challenger could not overcome.
The tournament concluded a busy week of competition at the Tremblay-en-France venue, setting the stage for the BWF’s official rankings release.
YONEX French Open 2026MS – Final21 14 21 🇫🇷Christo POPOV🥇11 21 13 🇮🇩Moh. Zaki UBAIDILLAH🕚 in 61 minutes
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