2025 French Open

Last Updated on October 26, 2025

The 2025 French Open (also known as the Yonex French Open 2025 for sponsorship reasons) was a badminton tournament held at the Glaz Arena in Cesson-Sévigné, France, from 21 to 26 October 2025. It was the 92nd edition of the French Open championships and part of the BWF World Tour Super 750 tournaments on the 2025 BWF World Tour. This event featured a total prize fund of US$950,000.¹“2025 France Open Prospectus”. BWF Corporate. Retrieved 30 August 2025.

Champions

Daily Highlights

Pre-Tournament: Early Shake-Up Rocks French Open

The 2025 French Open suffered a major disruption on its opening day as top seed and defending champion Shi Yuqi withdrew due to a shoulder injury. The reigning World Champion, who had only recently finished as runner-up at the Denmark Open, was forced to pull out before his scheduled Round of 32 match against Wang Tzu-wei at the Glaz Arena.

Shi’s absence instantly reshaped the Men’s Singles landscape. As a result of the seed withdrawal movement, Thailand’s Kunlavut Vitidsarn was promoted in the draw and subsequently faced Wang Tzu-wei in a challenging opening round—a rematch of the fixture Shi Yuqi had won the previous year. This development left the Men’s Singles tournament significantly more open to contenders.

The upsets were not limited to the men’s side. In Women’s Doubles, the top Chinese seeds, Liu Shengshu/Tan Ning, also withdrew. Reports indicated that Liu was still recovering from an injury sustained during their quarterfinal exit at the preceding Denmark Open. The Japanese pair Rin Iwanaga/Kie Nakanishi subsequently took their vacated spot in the main draw.

Summary of Key Withdrawals from the French Open 2025:

• Men’s Singles: Shi Yuqi, Wang Zhengxing
• Women’s Singles: Pornpawee Chochuwong, Supanida Katethong
• Women’s Doubles: Liu Shengshu/Tan Ning
• Mixed Doubles: Dhruv Kapila/Tanisha Crasto, Kevin Lee/Eliana Zhang

The wave of withdrawals provided immediate opportunities for other players, particularly Kunlavut Vitidsarn, who stepped into a more prominent opening match against Wang Tzu-wei, instantly becoming a focal point of the reshuffled bracket.

Ginting Dominates, Hosts See Mixed Results

The opening day of the French Open 2025 Round of 32 delivered mixed fortunes for both the host country and the Indonesian team.

France’s top Mixed Doubles pair, Thom Gicquel and Delphine Delrue, were forced into a challenging three-game fight to advance, eventually prevailing over Thailand’s Ruttanapak Oupthong/Jhenicha Sudjaipraparat (19-21, 21-15, 21-17). The brothers Popov had contrasting results: Christo Popov won his Men’s Singles match in straight games (21-11, 21-19), but his brother, Toma Junior Popov, was eliminated after losing in two games (16-21, 17-21).

Meanwhile, Indonesia’s Anthony Sinisuka Ginting secured a smooth passage into the Last 16 with a commanding straight-game victory over Lee Cheuk Yiu of Hong Kong (21-14, 21-13). However, Indonesia suffered a major loss in Women’s Singles when Gregoria Mariska Tunjung was upset by China’s Gao Fangjie in a three-game marathon (21-18, 6-21, 13-21). Indonesia’s Mixed Doubles pair, Jafar Hidayatullah/Felisha Alberta Nathaniel Pasaribu, also moved on with a decisive straight-game win.

Popov Breaks 79-Year French Open Drought

Christo Popov etched his name into French badminton history on Friday, becoming the first Frenchman in 79 years to reach the men’s singles semifinals of a home tournament. In a spectacular quarterfinal display at the French Open 2025, Popov dominated Chinese Taipei’s Chi Yu-jen, sweeping him aside with a commanding 21-13, 21-7 victory at the Glaz Arena.

Popov’s landmark achievement surpasses the mark set by Henri Bellizza in 1946, the last French men’s singles player to reach the “business end” of a home event.

The Retirement of Chen Qingchen

Tournament Details

Tournament Links

Tournament Schedule

All times are local, Central European Summer Time (UTC+2).

Venue

Located in the town of Cesson-Sévigné, just northeast of Rennes in Brittany, the Glaz Arena stands as a premier modern sports complex and a hub of athletic excellence in France. Inaugurated in 2014, this state-of-the-art facility was specifically designed to be the proud home of Cesson Rennes Métropole Handball, a top-tier club competing in the French Lidl Starligue, the world’s most competitive professional handball league. The arena’s distinctive name, “Glaz,” derives from the Breton word for “blue,” a nod to the region’s rich Celtic heritage and identity.

With a flexible seating capacity of approximately 4,200 spectators for major sporting events, the Glaz Arena is renowned for creating an intense and electrifying atmosphere. The design prioritizes fan proximity to the action, ensuring an immersive experience where the energy of the crowd becomes a tangible force. Beyond its primary function for handball, the multi-functional venue is equipped to host a wide array of events, including basketball, volleyball, major concerts, and corporate gatherings.

The facility boasts international-standard amenities, including a main arena with a high-quality playing surface, modern locker rooms, VIP areas, and hospitality suites. Its advanced lighting and acoustic systems make it a versatile venue for both sporting spectacles and entertainment. More than just a sports hall, the Glaz Arena serves as a vital community center for the metropolitan area of Rennes, symbolizing a deep-rooted passion for sport and serving as a fortress for elite athletic competition in northwestern France.

Getting to Glaz Arena from Paris CDG

Here is a comprehensive guide on the most efficient ways to get from your arrival point, Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG), to the Glaz Arena.

The Recommended Route: Train to Rennes, then Local Transport

The fastest and most direct public transport route involves a high-speed train journey, making a quick transit to the nearby city of Rennes your best bet.

1. High-Speed Train (TGV/InOui) from CDG to Rennes

• Departure Point: Aéroport Charles de Gaulle 2 TGV station (located within the airport complex).
• Destination: Rennes train station (Gare de Rennes).
• Duration: The direct high-speed train (TGV/InOui) takes approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes from CDG to Rennes. There are typically several direct services daily.
• Booking: It is highly recommended to book your tickets in advance through SNCF (the French national rail company) or other rail services for the best prices and to ensure your seat.

2. From Rennes Station to Glaz Arena

Once you arrive at Rennes station, the Glaz Arena in Cesson-Sévigné is easily accessible:

• Option A: Local Train (TER)
  • Take a short local train (TER) service from Gare de Rennes to the Halte ferroviaire de Cesson-Sévigné (Cesson-Sévigné train stop).
  • Duration: This journey is only about 5 minutes.
  • Walk: The Glaz Arena is located roughly 500 meters from the Cesson-Sévigné train stop.
• Option B: Local Bus (STAR Network)
  • The Glaz Arena is served by the local bus network (STAR).
  • Look for Line C6 or Line 67 and get off at the ‘Rigourdière’ stop, which is close to the arena.
• Option C: Taxi/Ride-Share
  • Taxis and ride-share services are available from Gare de Rennes and offer the most direct route to the Glaz Arena. The drive is short, though prices will be higher than public transport.

Alternative: Train from Paris City Centre

If you decide to spend time in Paris before heading to the tournament, you can take a high-speed train from Paris Montparnasse station to Rennes.

• Departure Point: Paris Montparnasse (easily reachable from CDG via RER B and then Metro).
• Destination: Rennes train station.
• Duration: The TGV journey from Paris Montparnasse to Rennes is even faster, typically around 1 hour and 30 minutes.
• Final Leg: Follow the local transport steps from “From Rennes Station to Glaz Arena” above.

TV Broadcast Schedule

For this event, Courts 1 and 2 will be featured in the television broadcast. Typically, television coverage for Court 1 spans from the earlier rounds through the finals, while Court 2’s broadcast usually focuses on mid-week matches. We recommend checking with your local broadcasters for specific details in your region. For comprehensive viewing, you can stream matches from all courts on the BWF TV YouTube channel from the tournament’s opening day. Here is the complete schedule:

Court 1

Court 2

Prize Money Distribution

The 2025 France Open badminton tournament has significantly elevated its financial commitment, underscoring its status as a premier event on the BWF World Tour. This year, the total prize purse has been set at an impressive US$950,000. This figure represents a substantial 11.8% increase (a rise of $100,000) from the previous edition, highlighting the event’s growing prestige and investment in the sport.

The champions will be handsomely rewarded for their triumph. The winner of the singles title will claim a grand prize of $66,500, while the victorious doubles team will split a larger pot of $70,300. In a notable and player-friendly policy, the tournament ensures that every main draw participant is compensated for their efforts.

French Open Status on BWF World Tour

References

• 1
  “2025 France Open Prospectus”. BWF Corporate. Retrieved 30 August 2025.