The stage was set for a thrilling finale at the 2025 Japan Masters in Kumamoto, and the mixed doubles final delivered. In one of the most gripping matches of the tournament, the French duo Thom Gicquel and Delphine Delrue pushed the Thai number-ones Dechapol Puavaranukroh / Supissara Paewsampran to the absolute wire, before bowing out, 21-18, 14-21, 21-18.
From the outset, it was midfield magic. Short, fast exchanges, wicked whips… the battle for the mid-court was fun to watch!
The Thai pair jumped out to a solid first-game lead and edged it 21-18, looking composed. But the second game swung the other way, as the French pair lifted their intensity. The decider was a pure battle of wills, Gicquel/Delrue held their nerve until the closing stretch, but in the end Puavaranukroh/Paewsampran just had the edge.
For the top seeds, the reward is significant, they have now claimed their seventh World Tour title as a partnership in just over a year. That’s a blistering emergence when you consider that former world champions, Dechapol Puavaranukroh and his previous partner, Sapsiree Taerattanachai, collected 16 titles over eight years. In that context, seven in about one year is simply extraordinary.
For Gicquel/Delrue, the result is perhaps bittersweet. They continue to rack up finals, this marks their fifth final of the calendar year, yet their trophy-count hasn’t kept pace. Just one title from those five attempts, although they will certainly be happy that the one they have is the Super 1000 Indonesia Open.
However, what this performance in Kumamoto showed is that they’re not far off. They matched the world-class Thai combination stroke-for-stroke and underlined their resurgence.
Who can break the Korean wall?
Kim Won Ho / Seo Seung Jae edged past Japan’s Hiroki Midorikawa / Kyohei Yamashita in a three-game affair, 20-22, 21-11, 21-16. The Korean pair saved four game-points in that opening game, something we’ve seen them do once or twice before, but they had to come from behind to win title number 10.
This ties them with the legendary Chinese pairing Li Yong Bo / Tian Bing Yi for the record of number of men’s doubles titles in a single calendar year. It feels inevitable they’ll break it!
A closer final but same result
Malaysia’s Pearly Tan / Thinaah Muralitharan claimed the crown after a tight 22-20, 21-19 win over Japan’s Rin Iwanaga / Kie Nakanishi.
When the two pairs faced each other in the Arctic Open final, it was one-way traffic for the Malaysians. The world silver-medallists were pushed this time but showed why they’re among the elite, winning their sixth World Tour title.
Intanon not slowing down
Ratchanok Intanon, who turned 30 this year, defeated Indonesia’s Gregoria Mariska Tunjung 21-16, 22-20 following a standout run.
Paying tribute this week to her friend and retiring star Tai Tzu Ying, Intanon showed that her years of experience are far from over. The Thai teenage sensation, who won the World Championships 12 years ago, also overcame a semifinal encounter with another former world champion, Nozomi Okuhara. Born in the same year as Intanon, it was a surprise win over top seed Yamaguchi that turned many heads.
Adding the Japan Masters to her earlier Indonesia Masters title this season, Intanon is showing no signs of slowing down just yet. However, her iconic celebration says that it’s time for a well-earned sleep now.
Gold for Japan
In an all-Japanese men’s singles final, it was the new generation that got its moment as Kodai Naraoka defeated compatriot Kenta Nishimoto 21-11, 10-21, 21-15. Naraoka, 24, found a way passed the experienced 31-year-old, suggesting that he may be primed for more going forward after a lull in form of late.
