Some European players delivered outstanding performances, while others fell short of expectations. Alex Lanier once again proved that he belongs among the world's elite, while questions still remain regarding Viktor Axelsen's health. What is certain, however, is that the final day of the tournament featured no European players on court. Off the court, though, Badminton England and the BWF once again organized a truly great event.
On the final day of the tournament, we witnessed blood, sweat, and tears, quite literally, alongside five incredibly well-played finals.
Mixed Doubles
The day began with an all-Chinese mixed doubles showdown between Guo/Chen and Feng/Wei. Neither pair was willing to concede without a fight, and after an intense battle lasting an hour and ten minutes, Guo and Chen could finally raise their arms in victory, celebrating their first All England title as a pair. The match ended 21-16, 10-21, 23-21.
Women's Doubles
The second final also featured a national matchup, this time between two Japanese women's doubles pairs. Yuki Fukushima and Mayu Matsumoto, both previous champions with former partners in 2020 and 2021, were looking to win the title together for the first time. Standing in their way were the 2022 champions Nami Matsuyama and Chiharu Shida. In a tense encounter filled with long rallies and offensive play, both pairs struggled to find decisive winners. Ultimately, it was Matsuyama and Shida who emerged victorious, their emotions spilling over as they were cheered on by a highly engaged crowd at the Utilita Arena in Birmingham.
Men's Singles
In men's singles, 2018 champion Shi Yu Qi was searching for his second All England title, facing the tournament’s surprise contender, Lee Chia Hao of Chinese Taipei, ranked 22nd in the world. Lee put up a strong fight, pushing the world number one to his limits. However, when Shi Yu Qi plays at his current level, he is nearly impossible to beat. Seven years after his first triumph, he secured his second All England title.
Women's Singles
The women's singles final featured a clash between the world's top two players, An Se Young and Wang Zhi Yi, and it turned into one of the most spectacular women's singles matches in recent memory. The crowd was more electrified than at any other point during the week, creating an incredible atmosphere. An Se Young had already struggled physically in her semifinal, and signs of exhaustion were evident again in the final. At times, she bent over, looking as if she was on the verge of giving up. However, both players maintained an exceptionally high level of play throughout the match, forcing a deciding third game. In the end, it was the reigning world and Olympic champion, An Se Young, who claimed her second All England title, much to the delight of the spectators.
Men's Doubles
The final match of the tournament was the men's doubles showdown between Indonesia’s Carnando/Maulana and South Korea’s Kim/Seo. Seo, the reigning world champion, only partnered with Kim at the start of the year, yet the pair had already claimed three tournament victories heading into this final. Their incredible run continued as they defeated the Indonesian duo 21-19, 21-19 in a high-paced match that lasted just 42 minutes.
Swiss Open
With that, the curtain falls on an incredible All England 2025.
Next week, the BWF World Tour moves on to the Swiss Open in Basel, running from March 18-23. You can follow the tournament closely here as well as on our social media channels, stay tuned for the latest updates on European badminton at the sport’s biggest stages.