BASEL, Switzerland – Nguyen Thuy Linh of Vietnam demonstrated resilience and skill, overcoming a slow start to defeat Germany’s Yvonne Li 2-1 in the opening round of the 2026 Swiss Open badminton tournament on Tuesday, March 11th. The victory marks a crucial step for Linh as she seeks to regain momentum following a first-round exit at the All England Open earlier this month.
The Swiss Open, a World Tour Super 300 level event, presents a more manageable challenge for Linh compared to the prestigious All England Open (World Tour 1000). This is particularly true with several top-ranked players absent from the competition. Still, the path to success wouldn’t be straightforward against the experienced German player.
Linh, currently ranked 26th in the world, faced a determined Yvonne Li, who holds a career-high ranking of 21st and is currently 52nd. Li, the reigning German national champion with seven national titles to her name, also secured her place in the main draw by defeating Lee Hsuan-yu of Taiwan in the qualifying round.
The opening set proved tough for the Vietnamese player. Linh struggled to uncover her rhythm and committed unforced errors, falling behind significantly. Li capitalized on this, building a commanding lead and ultimately securing the first set with a score of 21-11. At one point, Linh trailed 3-13, highlighting the initial dominance of her opponent.
However, Linh demonstrated her championship mettle in the second set. Employing a more aggressive strategy, focusing on quick movements and forcing Li into net play, she began to turn the tide. Li, in turn, appeared to lose some of her earlier momentum, making more errors. Linh seized the opportunity, winning the second set 21-15 and leveling the match.
The deciding third set was a closely contested affair. Linh maintained the initiative from the start, though Li provided staunch resistance. Despite Li’s efforts, she was unable to equalize the score at any point. Linh ultimately closed out the match with a 21-17 victory in the third set, completing a hard-fought comeback after nearly an hour of play.
This victory is particularly significant for Linh, who experienced travel disruptions leading up to the All England Open, impacting her preparation and physical condition. The Swiss Open provides a valuable opportunity to accumulate points and improve her world ranking.
The road ahead becomes considerably more challenging for Linh. In the second round of the Swiss Open, scheduled for today, March 12th, she will face Tomoka Miyazaki of Japan, the tournament’s third seed and currently ranked ninth in the world. Miyazaki represents a significant step up in competition.
Linh’s performance at the Swiss Open will be closely watched by badminton fans in Vietnam and around the globe. Her ability to overcome adversity and secure this opening-round victory demonstrates her potential for success on the international stage. The match against Miyazaki will be a true test of her current form and her aspirations for a deep run in the tournament.
The Swiss Open continues to deliver exciting badminton action, and all eyes will be on Nguyen Thuy Linh as she prepares for her next challenge against a formidable opponent in Tomoka Miyazaki.
