🏸 Men's singles semi-finals
Chun-Yi Lin (Chinese Taipei) [n°2] vs Ayush Shetty (India)
Taiwan's Chun-Yi Lin, seeded No. 2, confirmed his status as favourite by defeating India's Ayush Shetty in two sets (21-13, 21-15). Lin dominated the match with his precise play and experience, preventing Shetty from taking control of the match. Despite some flashes of brilliance, the young Indian was unable to turn the match around against his opponent.
Alex Lanier (France) [n°4] vs Nhat Nguyen (Ireland)
In a closely-fought semi-final, France's Alex Lanier, seeded No. 4, triumphed over Ireland's Nhat Nguyen in two sets (21-19, 21-18). Buoyed by the support of the crowd, Lanier kept his composure at key moments in the match, showing himself to be an effective player at the back of the court. Nguyen put up a good fight, but Lanier was able to gain the upper hand thanks to her consistency and ability to close out the important points.
The Palais des Sports crowd will be cheering on Alex Lanier on Sunday
The final of the men's singles at the Orléans Masters will pit Chun-Yi Lin of Chinese Taipei against Alex Lanier of France, promising an exciting clash between Asian experience and European drive.
Chun-Yi Lin, 25, is a seasoned player on the international circuit. Over the past 12 months, he has won the Vietnam Open in 2023, demonstrating his ability to win against top-level opposition. He also reached the quarter-finals of the Thailand Open in 2024, confirming his consistency in major competitions. His game is characterised by solid defence and exceptional court coverage, qualities that have kept him among the world's best players.
On the other side of the net, 19-year-old Alex Lanier embodies the new generation of French badminton. In August 2024, he made history by becoming the first Frenchman to win a Super 750 tournament at the Japan Open, aged just 19. During the tournament, he beat the world number one, China's Shi Yu Qi, in the semi-finals, before defeating Taiwan's Chou Tien Chen in the final. These performances enabled him to reach the 15ᵉ world ranking in October 2024, placing him as the youngest player at this level of the rankings. Lanier stands out for his aggressive play and great explosiveness, combined with an impressive tactical maturity for his age.
This final promises to be an exciting duel between Chun-Yi Lin and the promising young Alex Lanier!
