TOKYO, July 18 (Xinhua) -- Home favorites Koki Watanabe and Akane Yamaguchi advanced to the men's and women's singles finals of the Japan Open on Saturday after winning their respective semifinal matches.
In an all-Japan men's singles semifinal, Watanabe edged compatriot Yushi Tanaka 19-21, 23-21, 21-19 in a 79-minute thriller to set up a title clash with France's Christo Popov, who defeated another Japanese player, Kodai Naraoka, 21-14, 21-11.
Third-seeded Yamaguchi rallied from a game down to beat Indonesia's sixth-seeded Putri Kusuma Wardani 9-21, 21-16, 21-14 in the women's singles semifinals. The victory extended Yamaguchi's unbeaten record against Wardani to 8-0 and sent the former world champion into the final.
In the other women's singles semifinal, China's Tokyo Olympic champion Chen Yufei retired with an injury during the second game, allowing India's P. V. Sindhu to advance to the final.
Chen Yufei (L) and Pusarla V. Sindhu greet each other after the women's singles semifinal match between Chen Yufei of China and Pusarla V. Sindhu of India at the Japan Badminton Open 2026 in Tokyo, Japan, July 18, 2026. Chen retired from the match due to injury. (Xinhua/Yue Chenxing)
South Korea secured a place in both the men's and women's doubles finals. World No. 1 men's doubles pair Kim Won-ho and Seo Seung-jae defeated Malaysia's Goh Sze Fei and Nur Izzuddin 21-12, 11-21, 21-13 to book a final meeting with Indonesia's Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Shohibul Fikri.
Sixth-seeded Kim Hye-jeong and Kong Hee-yong advanced to the women's doubles final with a straight-games victory and will face China's second-seeded Jia Yifan and Zhang Shuxian.
The mixed doubles final will pit top-seeded Chinese pair Feng Yanzhe and Huang Dongping against Tang Chun Man and Tse Ying Suet from Hong Kong, China. ■
Chen Yufei (R) listens to her coach during the women's singles semifinal match between Chen Yufei of China and Pusarla V. Sindhu of India at the Japan Badminton Open 2026 in Tokyo, Japan, July 18, 2026. Chen retired from the match due to injury. (Xinhua/Yue Chenxing)
Chen Yufei hits a return during the women's singles semifinal match between Chen Yufei of China and Pusarla V. Sindhu of India at the Japan Badminton Open 2026 in Tokyo, Japan, July 18, 2026. Chen retired from the match due to injury. (Xinhua/Yue Chenxing)
Chen Yufei checks her thigh after the women's singles semifinal match between Chen Yufei of China and Pusarla V. Sindhu of India at the Japan Badminton Open 2026 in Tokyo, Japan, July 18, 2026. Chen retired from the match due to injury. (Xinhua/Yue Chenxing)
Chen Yufei hits a return during the women's singles semifinal match between Chen Yufei of China and Pusarla V. Sindhu of India at the Japan Badminton Open 2026 in Tokyo, Japan, July 18, 2026. Chen retired from the match due to injury. (Xinhua/Yue Chenxing)
Chen Yufei hits a return during the women's singles semifinal match between Chen Yufei of China and Pusarla V. Sindhu of India at the Japan Badminton Open 2026 in Tokyo, Japan, July 18, 2026. Chen retired from the match due to injury. (Xinhua/Yue Chenxing)
Chen Yufei competes during the women's singles semifinal match between Chen Yufei of China and Pusarla V. Sindhu of India at the Japan Badminton Open 2026 in Tokyo, Japan, July 18, 2026. Chen retired from the match due to injury. (Xinhua/Yue Chenxing)
Chen Yufei is pictured during the women's singles semifinal match between Chen Yufei of China and Pusarla V. Sindhu of India at the Japan Badminton Open 2026 in Tokyo, Japan, July 18, 2026. Chen retired from the match due to injury. (Xinhua/Yue Chenxing)
Chen Yufei is pictured during the women's singles semifinal match between Chen Yufei of China and Pusarla V. Sindhu of India at the Japan Badminton Open 2026 in Tokyo, Japan, July 18, 2026. Chen retired from the match due to injury. (Xinhua/Yue Chenxing)
Chen Yufei hits a return during the women's singles semifinal match between Chen Yufei of China and Pusarla V. Sindhu of India at the Japan Badminton Open 2026 in Tokyo, Japan, July 18, 2026. Chen retired from the match due to injury. (Xinhua/Yue Chenxing)
Pusarla V. Sindhu celebrates scoring during the women's singles semifinal match between Chen Yufei of China and Pusarla V. Sindhu of India at the Japan Badminton Open 2026 in Tokyo, Japan, July 18, 2026. Chen retired from the match due to injury. (Xinhua/Yue Chenxing)
