Tomoka Miyazaki Advances at the Korea Open After Straight-Game Win Over Han Qianxi
“To beat An Se-young, there are still many things I lack,” Tomoka Miyazaki said in a broadcast interview after advancing to the quarterfinals of the 2026 Badminton World Federation World Tour Super 500 Korea Open.
The 20-year-old Japanese singles player secured her spot in the next round on the 5th at Jinnam Gymnasium in Yeosu, Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated City, defeating China’s Han Qianxi, ranked 29th in the world, two games to none (21-10, 21-17). Miyazaki established control early in the first game by winning six consecutive points to pull ahead 15-4, ultimately closing out the opener before sealing the second game without major complications.
Miyazaki now faces compatriot Hina Akechi, the world No. 16, in the quarterfinals. Holding a 7-0 career record against Akechi, Miyazaki enters the match as the projected favorite to reach the semifinals, where An Se-young is widely expected to wait.
An Se-young Prepares for Quarterfinal Clash Against Riko Gunji
An Se-young earned her own quarterfinal berth by defeating Malaysia’s Karupathevan Letshanaa 21-10, 21-12 in the round of 16. The South Korean star faces Riko Gunji, ranked 20th in the world, in the quarterfinals.
Should An defeat Gunji and Miyazaki defeat Akechi, the tournament will feature a semifinal meeting between the two players. An currently holds an 8-0 head-to-head record against Miyazaki, most recently defeating her two games to none in the final of the China Masters last September.
Miyazaki Assesses the Physical Gap and Seeks Inspiration From an Se-young
Reflecting on her past losses to An, Miyazaki pointed to physical endurance and court coverage as the defining differences between them. “What is most impressive is that her posture never breaks under any circumstances,” Miyazaki said. “No matter which direction she moves, she does not lose her balance, and her ability to recover quickly even from broken postures is amazing. I want to emulate those aspects, especially the physical side.”
Miyazaki acknowledged that reaching the semifinals is not guaranteed and that she must maintain strict mental discipline against Akechi first. “Even though my preparation is not fully sufficient in some areas, I want to see what I can do when facing An Se-young,” Miyazaki said. “I want to show my game as much as possible and, above all, get my mindset right for the challenge.”
Yamaguchi Eyes Potential Final Rematch Against an Se-young
On the opposite side of the bracket, world No. 2 Akane Yamaguchi advanced past her opening match and voiced her desire for another meeting with An. The two rivals previously clashed in the finals of the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games and the Denmark Open, with An winning both encounters to extend her current win streak against Yamaguchi to ten matches.
Yamaguchi stated after her opening victory that she aims to take each round step by step to reach the final. “Recent results show I have not been winning, but I think the number of good matches I play is increasing,” Yamaguchi said. “I want to challenge her as many times as it takes.”
Earlier coverage: Tomoka Miyazaki Admits Gap to An Se-young After Korea Open Win
