All England Open Upset: Top-Ranked Shi Yuqi Falls, Ahn Se-young Continues Dominance
By 247sports.news Staff
Shocking First-Round Exit for World No. 1
The 2026 All England Open witnessed a major upset on its opening day as Shi Yuqi, the world’s No. 1 ranked men’s singles player, was eliminated in the first round. The defeat casts doubt on his long-held No. 1 ranking, which he had maintained for 83 weeks.
Sen Prevails in Three Games
Shi Yuqi battled Raksha Sen of India (world No. 12) for 1 hour and 18 minutes before falling with a score of 1-2 (21-23, 21-19, 17-21). Despite a strong effort, Shi Yuqi couldn’t overcome Sen’s performance.
Sina Sports reported on the 4th (Korean time),
“At the 2026 All England Open Men’s Singles, Switch, the tournament’s number one seed and China’s star star, was shockingly eliminated in the first round. His No. 1 position in the world rankings, which he had held for 83 weeks, was also in jeopardy.”
Ahn Se-young Extends Winning Streak
In women’s singles, Ahn Se-young, the world No. 1, continued her dominant form, easily advancing to the next round and extending her winning streak to 33 consecutive matches.
Injury Concerns for Shi Yuqi
The loss raises questions about Shi Yuqi’s recent form, with reports suggesting he may not have fully recovered from a back injury. He had previously withdrawn from the Malaysia Open final in January due to back problems.
Sina Sports also noted,
“Switch’s first round elimination is rare. His last early elimination was the first since the 2023 Thailand Open first round (loss to India’s Kiran George). Before this tournament, he had not been able to play for a long time due to a back injury.”
What’s Next?
With Shi Yuqi’s unexpected exit, the path to the championship is now more open. Potential contenders include Kunlabut Vitisan of Thailand, Anders Antonsen of Denmark, Jonathan Christie of Indonesia, and Christo Popov of France.
Ahn Se-young’s Dominant Performance
Ahn Se-young secured a swift victory over Neslihan Arin of Turkey, winning 2-0 (21-8, 21-6) in just 27 minutes. She is aiming for her second consecutive All England Open title and a historic third singles title overall.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Who won the match between Shi Yuqi and Raksha Sen? Raksha Sen of India won the match 2-1.
- How many matches has Ahn Se-young won in a row? Ahn Se-young has won 33 consecutive matches.
- What is Shi Yuqi’s current world ranking? Shi Yuqi is currently ranked No. 1 in the world.
The All England Open continues to deliver thrilling action, and fans eagerly await the next rounds to see who will emerge as champions.