Denmark’s Anders Antonsen arrived in Changzhou as one of Europe's main hopes in the men's singles. However, China’s new talent, Wang Zheng Xing, rode the cheers from the home crowd to reach the final.

Over the course of the week, Antonsen delivered a string of determined performances to reach the semifinals and looked physically very fit, much like a prime Jan O Jorgensen who is now behind the court for him. 

Antonsen edged past Taiwan’s Lin Chun Yi in a gritty three‑set battle, bouncing back from a second‑game setback to close out 21‑19, 20‑22, 22‑20, and then in the quarterfinal it was another endurance test against Toma Junior Popov.

Today, Antonsen faced China’s Wang Zheng Xing, a rising talent, and struggled to deal with his terrific net play and accuracy. Losing a relatively close opening game, there was a moment midway through the second where Antonsen looked to make his move.

But Wang just took a moment to fill up his lungs and surged towards the finishing line, winning 21-18, 21-15. The 2021 World University Games gold medallist is through to his first Super 1000 final, after beating the winner of the last one – Antonsen at the Indonesia Open.

Chinese dominance

This result secures an all-China men’s singles final with Shi Yu Qi overcoming the in-form Chou Tien Chen, winning 21-13, 22-20 in the other semifinal.

Team China have also dominated in the mixed doubles, with the top two pairs of Feng Yan Zhe/ Huang Dong Ping and Jiang Zhen Bang/ Wei Ya Xin meet again.

Similarly, in the women’s doubles China have secured both spots in the final and have live chances in women’s singles and men’s doubles.