Putri Wardani Defeats Wang Zhiyi for First Time, Reaches Japan Open Semifinals

Indonesian singles player Putri Kusuma Wardani has finally overcome her struggles against China's Wang Zhiyi, achieving her first career victory against the world number two. This dramatic win in the Japan Open 2026 quarterfinals secured her a spot in the semifinals, ending a seven-match losing streak against the formidable opponent.

Wardani clinched the hard-fought match with a score of 9-21, 21-17, 21-4. She expressed immense relief and happiness, noting that previously she could only manage to win one game against Wang Zhiyi before faltering in the decider. "Alhamdulillah, I feel relieved because I finally beat Wang Zhi Yi. Usually, the best I could do was take one game and then lose in the deciding game when playing her, An Se Young, or Akane, but today I could win, so I'm very happy," Wardani stated.

She attributed the shift in momentum, particularly from the second game onwards, to following her coach's advice to increase her intensity and focus less on the outcome. This strategy allowed her to find her rhythm and turn the match around. Wardani emphasized that maintaining focus throughout the grueling match was key to her success, describing it as a significant confidence booster for her upcoming matches.

In the semifinals, Wardani is set to face Japan's top seed, Akane Yamaguchi. Recognizing the challenge of playing an experienced opponent on home turf, Wardani hopes her recent triumph will serve as motivation to deliver another strong performance.

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Alhamdulillah, I feel relieved because I finally beat Wang Zhi Yi. Usually, the best I could do was take one game and then lose in the deciding game when playing her, An Se Young, or Akane, but today I could win, so I'm very happy.