An Se-young Takes Third Straight China Masters Title

In a season already measured in streaks and historic firsts, An Se-young added another line to her record on Sunday. The South Korean dispatched Tomoka Miyazaki of Japan 21-17, 21-6 to win the China Masters, becoming the first player ever to claim the title three years running.

A close start, then a closing door

The final in Shenzhen Arena began as a genuine contest. Miyazaki kept the opening game tight and never trailed by more than two points until An nudged ahead 13-10.

Two errant returns from the Japanese player handed An breathing room. Though Miyazaki clawed back to 18-15, a clean smash that she could not return sealed the first game 21-17 for the world number one.

Eight points without reply

What followed was a procession. An won the first eight points of the second game, her opponent looking increasingly overwhelmed.

The Japanese ninth seed never recovered. An closed the 45-minute victory on a 6-1 run, securing her 13th consecutive 2-0 sweep and improving her career record against Miyazaki to 8-0.

A third crown and a 33-match wave

The title extends An's winning streak to 33 matches, with her 2026 win rate now at 98 per cent. It is her seventh individual trophy of the season, coming two weeks after she defended her world championship in New Delhi without dropping a single game.

"Tomoka put me under a lot of pressure, which left me a bit flustered," An told reporters afterwards. "But I tried to calmly maintain my pace and tried not to rush."

She now looks toward the Asian Games, where she will attempt to become the first South Korean badminton player to defend a singles gold medal. For a player who has won 49 of her last 50 completed matches, the calm held once more.