PUBLISHED : 23 Nov 2025 at 05:09
Ratchanok Intanon’s impressive run came to an end after the Thai star bowed out in the semi-finals of the US$475,000 (approx 15.4 million baht) BWF Australian Open on Saturday.
The Thai fourth seed claimed her second title of the year at the Kumamoto Masters in Japan a week ago but the 30-year-old was no match for An Se-Young on Saturday, with the top-ranked Korean storming into her 11th final with a 21-8, 21-6 victory.
An, who is looking to match her 2023 record of 10 titles in a year, will face either second seed Putri Kusuma Wardani of Indonesia or seventh seed Michelle Li of Canada.
No joy for doubles stars
Both Thai mixed doubles pairs exited the Super 500 tournament on Saturday.
In a shootout for the World Tour Finals qualification, third seeds Ruttanapak Oupthong and Jhenicha Sudjaipraparat were beaten by No.2 seeds Jafar Hidayatullah and Felisha Alberta Nathaniel Pasaribu 21-19, 13-21, 14-21, with the Indonesian pair securing a spot in the season-ending tournament in Hangzhou, China, next month.
Hidayatullah and Pasaribu will face top seeds Chen Tang Jie and Toh Ee Wei in the title match after the Malaysian pair defeated Pakkapon Teeraratsakul and Sapsiree Taerattanachai 21-16, 21-14.
In the men’s singles semi-finals, Lakshya Sen of India knocked out Chou Tien-chen of Taiwan 17-21, 24-22, 21-16 while Yushi Tanaka of Japan defeated fifth seed Li Chun-yi of Taiwan 21-18, 21-15.