Europe had three chances to reach a final at the first Super 1000 tournament of the year, the Malaysia Open, but none managed to convert their semifinal appearances into a place in the final. Jesper Toft/Amalie Magelund, Ben Lane/Sean Vendy, and Anders Antonsen all delivered strong performances throughout the week to secure semifinal spots. For both Toft/Magelund and Lane/Vendy, it was their first-ever Super 1000 semifinal appearance.

Toft/Magelund Fall to World No. 2 Pair

Jesper Toft and Amalie Magelund faced a tough challenge in their semifinal against world number two Jiang/Wei. The Danish pair, who had impressed throughout the tournament, were unable to put sustained pressure on the strong Chinese duo. Jiang/Wei controlled most of the match and secured a straight-games victory, 21–15 21–14.

Despite missing out on a final, the result marks a significant milestone for Toft and Magelund. Their performance in Malaysia is a strong indication of the level they could consistently reach going into the 2026 season.

Lane/Vendy Push World Champions to the Limit

Ben Lane and Sean Vendy entered the Malaysia Open after a mixed 2025 season, which included several disappointments but also a breakthrough Super 500 title at the Arctic Open. Malaysia marked their first Super 1000 semifinal, where they faced the world number one pair and reigning world champions, Kim/Seo of South Korea.

The English duo started the match in sensational fashion, dominating the opening game 21–8. The second game swung heavily in the opposite direction, with Kim/Seo responding emphatically to win 21–11. The decider was closely contested, with the pairs level at 15–15 before the South Koreans found momentum at a crucial moment and closed out the match 21–18.

Despite the loss, it was a major result for Lane and Vendy and a promising sign that more success could follow for the pair in 2026.

Antonsen Stopped by Shi Yu Qi

The final European hope for a place in the final rested with Anders Antonsen, who once again came up against world number one and world champion Shi Yu Qi. The two players had met in the Malaysia Open finals in each of the past two years, sharing one title apiece.

This time, however, it was Shi Yu Qi who proved too strong. The opening game was evenly matched until 12–12, before the Chinese player won nine of the next ten points to take the game 21–13. Shi maintained his high level in the second game and secured his place in the final with a 21–14 victory.