China Masters: Lin Chun-Yi Edges Out Antonsen in Semifinal Upset

Antonsen's title defense crumbles

Anders Antonsen's China Masters title defense ended in the semifinal with a 19-21, 14-21 loss to Lin Chun-Yi. The Taiwanese player will face Weng Hongyang in the final.

Anders Antonsen's semifinal match against Lin Chun-Yi was a tough one to lose, with the Dane...

Defending champion Anders Antonsen's title defense came to an abrupt end at the China Masters as he lost to World No. 15 Lin Chun-Yi from Taiwan in the semifinals with a score of 19-21, 14-21. Despite being the bookmakers' favorite, Antonsen struggled to find his rhythm and couldn't overcome Lin's consistent play.

The match began with Antonsen taking an early lead, but Lin Chun-Yi skillfully closed the gap, ultimately claiming the first set 21-19. In the second set, Lin dominated, taking an early 9-4 lead, which Antonsen briefly narrowed down but couldn't sustain the momentum.

Anders Antonsen's semifinal match against Lin Chun-Yi was a tough one to lose, with the Dane falling short 19-21, 14-21. Despite being the favorite to win, Antonsen couldn't quite bring his A-game, lacking the sharpness and margins he needed to take down the Taiwanese player.

In Sunday's final, Lin Chun-Yi will face off against Chinese player Weng Hongyang. Interestingly, Antonsen had beaten Lin Chun-Yi two months ago in the China Open, but this time around, he just couldn't catch a break. Despite starting strong with an attacking style of play, Antonsen found himself struggling to maintain the lead.

The match's pivotal moment came at 19-19 in the first set when Lin Chun-Yi seized control, forcing Antonsen into crucial errors that put the Dane under immense pressure. Lin Chun-Yi capitalized on these mistakes, ultimately taking the set 21-19.

Lin Chun-Yi and Anders Antonsen contend for a spot in the finals. #BWFWorldTour #ChinaMasters2025 pic.twitter.com/wXsR7cm9ak

— BWF (@bwfmedia) September 20, 2025

In the second set, Lin Chun-Yi got off to a strong start, leading 9-4 after the change of sides. Although Antonsen mounted a brief comeback with some impressive net play, winning six points in a row to take the lead, Lin Chun-Yi quickly regained his composure. The Taiwanese player turned the tide of the set, leaving Antonsen looking increasingly frustrated and resigned. Despite his efforts, Antonsen couldn't sustain his momentum, and Lin Chun-Yi ultimately took the set 21-14, advancing to the final.

Next Steps for Antonsen:

After this loss, Antonsen will likely reassess his strategy and work on fine-tuning his skills to perform better in upcoming tournaments