Anders Antonsen defeats Jonatan Christie to clinch China Masters 2024
Antonsen claimed his fourth title of the year in Shenzhen after An Seyoung beat Gao Fangjie for her first success since winning Olympic gold.
Badminton
Anders Antonsen got the better of Jonatan Christie to become the first Dane to win the men's singles at the China Masters on Sunday (24 November).
The European champion needed 51 minutes to prevail 21-15, 21-13 and clinch a fourth BWF Tour title of 2024 which cements his position at the top of the Race to Finals rankings. There was some consolation for Christie as reaching the final in Shenzhen saw him qualify for next month's BWF Tour Finals in Huangzhou.
Antonsen led 11-5 at the first mid-game interval with Christie sending a number of lifts beyond the baseline. The Indonesian was very much out of sorts, trying in vain to finish rallies quickly with the third seed not needing to hit outright winners.
The change of ends helped Christie at the start of the second game as he went into a 8-6 lead. But the errors soon returned with Antonsen taking five straight points into the break. Christie did finally find some rhythm to close the gap to two after the restart, but a missed overhead and a fluffed net shot handed the initiative back to his opponent.
The sixth seed was out of ideas with Antonsen winning eight of the last 10 points to seal his fourth victory in 10 meetings over the Asian champion, and back up his triumph at the Denmark Open.
An Seyoung returns to winning ways
An Seyoung was too strong for home shuttler Gao Fangjie in the women's singles final as she claimed her first title since winning Olympic gold at Paris 2024.
The 22-year-old from Republic of Korea eased to victory 21-12, 21-8 in 38 minutes for her fourth BWF World Tour success of the season and the 27th title of her career.
Despite playing with the drift in the first game, the world number one showed exemplary control of the shuttle as she moved her opponent around the court at will. Gao, who came back from a career-threatening Achilles tear in 2019, fought hard but was ultimately unable to cope with An's shot variety.
Earlier, there was success for the home team as top seeds Feng Yanzhe and Huang Dongping got the better of Malaysia's Hoo Pang Ron and Cheng Su Yin 21-16 in the decider of the mixed doubles final.
Olympic silver medallists Liu Shengshu and Tan Ning won the all-Chinese women's doubles final, easing past Li Yijing and Luo Xumin for their sixth title of the year having clinched the Japan Masters last weekend.
In just their second tournament together, Korean left-handers Jin Yong and Seo Seungjae took the men's doubles final by beating Indonesia's Sabar Karyama Gutama and Moh Reza Pahlevi Isfahani in straight games.
It capped a great week for Jin and Seo who beat three former world number one pairings on their way to the final. Seo, who won the world men's and mixed doubles titles last year, has a new partner with Kang Min-Hyuk unavailable for at least a year having started his national military service.
Results from the finals of the BWF China Masters, 24 November 2024:
Mixed doubles: [1] Feng Yanzhe/Huang Dongping (CHN) def. Hoo Pang Ron/Cheng Su Yin (MAS) 21-23, 25-23, 21-16
Women's singles: [1] An Seyoung (KOR) def. Gao Fangie (CHN) 21-12, 21-8
Women's doubles: [2] Liu Shengshu/Tan Ning def. [7] Li Yijing/Luo Xumin (CHN) 21-10, 21-10
Men's singles: [3] Anders Antonsen (DEN) def. [6] Jonatan Christie (INA) 21-15, 21-13
Men's doubles: Jin Yong/Seo Seungjae (KOR) def. Sabar Karyaman Gutama/Moh Reza Pahlevi Isfahani (INA) 21-16, 21-16