Shenzhen, China: World No. 1 An Se-young sent a strong message at the China Masters 2025, dismantling World No. 3 Han Yue with a commanding 21-11, 21-3 victory in the women’s singles final. The Korean shuttler, who fell short at the World Championships in Paris against China’s Chen Yufei, bounced back in emphatic fashion with a near-perfect week in Shenzhen.
Across the tournament, Se-young conceded just 126 points in five matches, all in straight sets:
- R1 vs Nidaira – 26 points
- R2 vs Blichfeldt – 35 points
- QF vs P.V. Sindhu – 27 points
- SF vs Akane Yamaguchi – 24 points
- Final vs Han Yue – 14 points
The dominant run underlined her determination to respond to her Worlds exit and reassert her supremacy on the tour.
Rivalries with the Chinese Stars
Se-young has enjoyed remarkable success against China’s Wang Zhi Yi, leading 13-4 in head-to-heads, and now holds a 9-2 record over Han Yue. However, her toughest rival remains Chen Yufei, where the Korean currently trails 13-14.
Ahead of the Paris Worlds, Se-young admitted to Yonhap Agency:
“It’s never easy going up against Chinese players because they are all great. But I think I can bring home the results I want if I just focus on my own game and not think too much about my opponents.”
Still Room for Growth
Despite her dominance, Se-young remains focused on consistency. After the Japan Open, she stressed:
“I think I have a long way to go. I have to be more consistent.”
Her head coach Park Joo-bong echoed the sentiment, warning that her perfectionist streak could sometimes create added pressure:
“I am a little worried she will put too much pressure on herself because she is a perfectionist. She has to realize she will lose at some point. At the World Championships, she had a battle against herself.”
That prophecy came true in Paris against Yufei, but in Shenzhen, Se-young unleashed her frustrations, producing one of the most one-sided finals in recent memory.