CHANGZHOU, July 25 (Xinhua) -- China's women's singles faced mixed fortunes in Saturday's semifinals of the 2026 China Open. Second seed Wang Zhiyi lost a tight three-game clash, while Chen Yufei cruised into the final to keep local title hopes alive.
Defending champion Wang fought hard against Japan's Akane Yamaguchi but lost the match 21-10, 6-21, 21-16 after a 54-minute battle.
Chen delivered a steady performance to beat Japan's young star Tomoka Miyazaki in straight games. The Olympic champion claimed a 21-17, 21-15 win to reach the title match.
On the men's side, the all-Chinese Taipei semifinal went to veteran Chou Tien-chen as he beat teammate Lin Chun-Yi 21-18, 21-17.
France's Toma Junior Popov made history to become the first Frenchman to reach a China Open final after beating Canada's Victor Lai 14-21, 21-12, 21-15 after a 72-minute grind.
The host nation guaranteed itself a gold medal in mixed doubles after both Chinese pairs prevailed in Saturday's semifinals.
Feng Yanzhe and Huang Dongping, the top seeds, dispatched France's Thom Gicquel and Delphine Delrue 21-19, 21-14 in clinical fashion.
Guo Xinwa and Chen Fanghui then dug deep to overcome Thailand's Dechapol Puavaranukroh and Supissara Paewsampran 23-21, 21-19, setting up the all-China title showdown.
Local women's doubles pair Liu Shengshu and Tan Ning beat South Korea's Baek Ha-na and Lee So-hee 21-9, 21-10. The dominant victory sent them straight into the final against Japan's Yuki Fukushima and Mayu Matsumoto, who knocked out China's Li Yijing and Luo Xumin earlier.
The men's doubles will see Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Shohibul Fikri take on world champions Kim Won-ho and Seo Seung-jae of South Korea.
All finals will be held on Sunday.■
