Mima Ito brings veteran Ying Han’s brave run to an end

Ying Han’s brave run came to an end at WTT Champions Frankfurt 2025, following her quarterfinals exit to second seed Mima Ito in the women’s singles, bowing out 3-11, 5-11, 6-11, 7-11.

The German had showcased remarkable form throughout the event, kicking off her campaign with a stellar victory over seventh seed Cheng I-Ching, before dismantling compatriot Annett Kaufmann with a straight game win in the Round of 16.

Defeating Ito, however, would be a step too far for Han, her Japanese rival proving the stronger of the two players.

Despite being unable to take the win, the veteran German leaves Frankfurt with her head held high, improving significantly from her opening round exit last week in Montpellier and matching her career-best WTT Champions quarterfinals finish from Macao.

As for Ito, the win brings the Japanese star into a WTT Champions semi-finals for the first time since Macao 2022, where she awaits perhaps her toughest challenge yet, compatriot and World No.13 Hina Hayata.

Top seed Miwa Harimoto moved one step closer to silverware, as she overcame fellow 17-year-old Hana Goda 11-8, 6-11, 11-9, 11-3, 11-4 in their quarterfinals.

It was a valiant effort from Goda, who managed to challenge the top seed throughout much of the contest, and even getting her name on the scoreboard, the Egyptian clinching a tight third game.

After the third game, however, Harimoto’s play reached a whole new level, leaving Goda behind in the dust as the Japanese sensation raced ahead to victory, Harimoto claiming the last two games with relative ease to send her Egyptian opponent packing.

Meanwhile, Hina Hayata’s control over the table was total, dictating rallies, neutralizing Adriana Diaz’s pace. The Japanese ace overpowered Diaz in a well-rounded 11-8, 11-5, 10-12, 11-9, 11-7 victory that blended poise with ruthless precision. With the win, Hayata is now one win away from matching her best WTT Champions that came two years back here in Frankfurt semifinal finish. 

Shin Yubin was also unstoppable in her quarter-final tie. Fresh from her semifinal run in Montpellier just a week ago, she dismantled Elizabeta Samara 11-9, 11-4, 11-5, 11-4 to storm into yet another semifinal appearance.

Her backhand was a weapon of destruction, dictating the pace from the first point to the last. The 21-year-old is now her on her second consecutive top four finish, a proof that her rise in 2025 is no fluke but a full-force breakout.

For the first time in his international career, Anders Lind took down Felix Lebrun, producing a sublime performance to stun the No.4 seed 11-7, 12-10, 11-6, 3-11, 12-14, 11-7 in the men’s singles quarter-finals.

Having lost out to Lebrun in each of their six international encounters prior to latest showdown, it only added more fuel to the Dane’s motivation.

Having upstaged current World No.1 Wang Chuqin and former World No.1 Lin Shidong in recent times, Lind was no stranger to pulling off an upset.

It didn’t take long for Lebrun to identify just how big a threat Lind posed in this match-up, as the latter came storming out of the blocks, taking the opening game by a four-point margin before doubling up with a 12-10 win in the second.

With the third game also falling in the Dane’s favour, Lebrun was left with a mountain to climb. Still coming to terms with what had hit him in those first three games, the former WTT Champions winner needed a response, and he needed one fast, with no more margin for error.

A response came, and it was emphatic as Lebrun began to take more risks, showing significantly more aggression to hit back 3-11 in game four. The tide continued to turn as the Frenchman saved four match points in the following game to keep his hopes alive.

Suddenly, the landscape had completely shifted. Lebrun was now in the ascendency, with Lind beginning to wonder if fate would conspire against him again. If Lebrun could get off to a quick start in the sixth game, then all the pressure would fall on his opponent’s shoulders.

However, just in the nick of time, Lind found the inspiration he was looking for, punishing the No.4 seed with real ferocity on offense, Lind began to wrestle away control of the momentum again, leaving Lebrun visibly frustrated at 6-0. There would be a late charge from Lebrun, clawing his way back to 8-7, but it would prove too little too late, as Lind showed nerves of steel to finally get one over the World No.7.

“I’m extremely happy, he’s one of the players I’ve always felt the most uncomfortable playing against. His game, his serves, I’ve always found them difficult to deal with. Today I definitely found a much better tactic and solution. In the fifth game I had many Match Points, then in the last game I was leading big and I got a little bit nervous, but in the end, I managed to stay cool and take the match. So, I’m very proud and happy'” said Lind.

Elsewhere, Dang Qiu has extended his impressive run on home ground, taking down Anton Kallberg 11-8, 6-11, 11-8, 19-17, 11-5in their men’s singles quarterfinals.

A match bursting with drama and excitement, the two stars gave it their all in this action-packed spectacle, brimming with red-hot topspin exchanges and clever tactical play. 

It will be Qiu’s first semifinals appearance at a WTT Champions event in over a year, the last time being at Chongqing in 2024.

Teenage prodigy Sora Matsushima continued his meteoric rise, sweeping past Germany’s own Dimitrij Ovtcharov in commanding fashion, 11-9, 11-8, 11-7, 11-4.

Matsushima, who reached his first WTT Champions final just last week in Montpellier, was all poise and precision in Frankfurt. Against the former World No.1 and home hero, the 18-year-old’s speed and daring aggression proved unstoppable. Another giant down and another statement that the new generation has arrived.

The night’s final showdown saw Lee Sang Su battled past Simon Gauzy in a tense 11-9, 11-6, 4-11, 13-15, 11-4, 11-7 win.

Their rivalry stretches back nearly a decade, but it was Lee’s composure and big-match experience that made the difference this time. After trading intense middle-game duels including a marathon fourth game that went Gauzy’s way at 15-13, Sang Su reasserted control with pinpoint precision and relentless rhythm.

With the win, Sang Su booked his second WTT Champions semifinal of the season, following his runner-up finish in WTT Champions Incheon earlier this year.