Chinese shuttler Chen Yufei takes 1st win after return at Orleans Masters

Chen Yufei of China defeated Hina Akechi of Japan 25-23, 19-21, 21-16 in the women's singles first round at the Orleans Masters in Orleans, France, on Wednesday, winning her first World Tour match since the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.

It took Chen some time to shake off her rust in the first game after missing multiple key plays. She clinched it after a close battle, but then fell short in strength in the second, committing a series of mistakes that cost her the game.

The Chinese ace improved her performance in the third game and began with a 7-2 lead. Akechi then replied with a 9-3 run to gain the lead at 11-10. Chen then bounced back by outscoring the opponent 7-3. Though she suffered another two errors at the end of the game, she ended the competition by scoring four straight points and advanced to the round of 16.

In other matches on the day, Lin Hsiang-Ti of Chinese Taipei knocked out Han Yue of China 21-19, 7-21, 21-19. Gao Fangjie of China came back to beat Line Christophersen of Denmark 21-23, 21-15, 22-20. Chinese No. 2 seed Wang Zhiyi swept past Komang Ayu Cahya Dewi of Indonesia 21-13, 21-8.

On the men's side, the only Chinese participant Wang Zhengxing was eliminated in the first round by Rasmus Gemke of Denmark who won 21-15, 14-21, 21-10.