Anders ANTONSEN goes through quarterfinals

At 35, time has no hold on CHOU Tien Chen. The oldest player still competing in the competition, he is currently number 1 in the BWF points rankings for 2025 (70,200). It is therefore in great shape that he challenges Anders ANTONSEN, the world number 2 in the rankings, winner of an epic duel the day before against Toma Junior POPOV. 

In this very high-level match, the Chinese Taipei player leads exclusively at the break and what's more, by the same amount (11/9). But the player who revealed himself to the world in 2014, by winning the BWF Super Series French Open, here in Paris, was unable to contain the Dane's passion and rage at each break return. While he was quickly caught in the first set and never managed to get back into the game (13/14, 16/19 then 17/21), he will, however, have deep regrets in the second set. 

With a clear lead (18/12), the adidas Arena crowd was probably expecting a third set. But that's when ANTONSEN went into a deep rage against himself, gradually reducing the gap. Sometimes, a little too much when his back was against the wall (20/17), earning him a yellow card. The Aarhus native, always so demonstrative with each point scored, erased the three set points against him (20/20). The dynamics reversed and the triple world medalist ended up overtaking CHOU Tien Chen by a hair's breadth (21/23), to the great delight of his coaches and supporters who came in large numbers. 

A fantastic comeback that allows him to qualify for the semi-finals of this TotalEnergies BWF 2025 World Championships.