'Shuttlecock Queen' An Se-young (Samsung Life) claimed victory at the Korea Open, marking her second consecutive season with a record 11 titles.
The world No. 1 An Se-young defeated world No. 2 Akane Yamaguchi (Japan) in the women's singles final of the 2026 BWF World Tour Korea Open (Super 500) held at Jin Nam Gymnasium in Yeosu, Jeonnam, on November 8, with a score of 2-1 (21-12, 15-21, 21-16).
This victory brings An's total to 11 titles this season.
Last year, she tied the record for most titles in a single season with 11, matching Japan's Kento Momota's record set in 2019 for men's singles. An has now achieved this feat for two consecutive seasons, a first in history for both men's and women's singles.
An's record is impressive. Since losing to Wang Zhi Yi (China) in the final of the All England Open in March, she has gone on a 55-match winning streak. This year, she has recorded 71 wins and just 1 loss in 72 matches, achieving a win rate of 98.6%.
Additionally, this victory allowed An to avenge her loss to Yamaguchi in last year's Korea Open final. Following that defeat, she has won 11 consecutive matches against Yamaguchi, improving her overall record against her to 25 wins and 15 losses.
The final was fiercely contested, showcasing the skills of the world’s top two players. After a 9-9 tie in the first game, An scored three consecutive points and then added seven more to lead 19-10, ultimately winning the game 21-12.
In the second game, An struggled against Yamaguchi's fierce comeback. Falling behind 0-4 early, An made several errors and trailed 8-12. Although she narrowed the gap to 14-16, she could not recover and lost the game 15-21.
Regrouping for the final game, An regained her solid defense. After a 1-1 tie, she scored five consecutive points to take the lead. Even when Yamaguchi closed in at 9-10, An responded with consecutive points to pull ahead again. She ultimately secured the match with a score of 21-16.
Despite the fatigue from a busy international schedule, An displayed her fighting spirit in front of home fans. She plans to take a break and focus on recovery, opting out of the upcoming Kumamoto Masters in Japan.
She will then compete in the BWF World Tour Finals in Hangzhou, China, in December, aiming for her 12th title of the season. If successful, she will set a new record for the most titles in a single season.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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