Defending champion Alex Lanier was hoping to repeat last year’s win at the Japan Open, but this time, world number three Shi Yu Qi stood in his way, claiming the title.
This was only the second time the two met – the first was also at the Japan Open, in last year’s semifinals, where Lanier had come out on top in three games. This time, they met in the final.
The first game was close. Shi never led by more than three points, but at 17-17, he pulled away, winning four straight points to take the game. In the second game, the Chinese player looked more in control, but Lanier continued to fight. After meeting at 7-7, Shi regained the lead and maintained it, eventually closing the match 21-15 to win the title.
This is yet another strong performance from Lanier. In only his second Super 750 final, the 20-year-old delivered another solid run, his second-best result on the tour after last year’s title in Tokyo. And next week, we’ll see more of him at the VICTOR China Open, a Super 1000. Lanier’s opening match will be against Toma Junior Popov, and if he gets past his fellow countryman, he would face either Anthony Sinisuka Ginting or Loh Kean Yew. It won’t be easy, but Lanier has shown he’s here to go all the way.
Here are all of the results from today’s finals at the DAIHATSU Japan Open 2025:
- Mixed doubles - Dechapol Puavaranukroh/Supissara Paewsampran [5] vs Jiang Zhen Bang/Wei Ya Xin [2]: 19-21 21-16 15-21
- Women’s singles - An Se Young [1] vs Wang Zhi Yi [2]: 21-12 21-10
- Women’s doubles - Liu Sheng Shu/Tan Ning [1] vs Pearly Tan/Thinaah Muralitharan [3]: 21-15 21-14
- Men’s doubles - Goh Sze Fei/Nur Izzuddin [1] vs Kim Won Ho/Seo Seung Jae [3]: 16-21 17-21
- Men’s singles - Alex Lanier [8] vs Shi Yu Qi [3]: 17-21 15-21
