Singapore – Home favourite Loh Kean Yew, currently ranked world number 10, is set for a challenging start to his Singapore Open 2025 campaign. He is slated to face the formidable young French talent, Alex Lanier, who enters the tournament as the eighth seed and world number 9. This highly anticipated first-round clash promises to be a thrilling encounter, with a spot in the second round on the line.
The head-to-head record between the two players currently stands at 1-0 in Lanier’s favour. Their previous meeting at the quarter-finals of the Denmark Open 2024 was a marathon battle, lasting a grueling 80 minutes. In a fiercely contested match, Lanier ultimately prevailed with a narrow 21-18, 15-21, 24-22 victory, showcasing both players’ tenacity and skill.
A victory for Loh Kean Yew in this opening match would not only level their head-to-head record at 1-1 but also secure his progression to the second round. There, he would face the winner of the match between Japan’s Yushi Tanaka and another French contender, Toma Junior Popov.
Loh Kean Yew has already had a notable 2025 season, collecting two significant achievements. He reached the final of the Swiss Open Super 300, where he narrowly missed out on the title, falling to two-time Olympic champion Viktor Axelsen of Denmark. Demonstrating his resilience and championship pedigree, Loh then went on to clinch the Taipei Open 2025, also a Super 300 level event, defeating local favourite Chou Tien-chen in a convincing performance.
The Singapore Open 2025 opener against Alex Lanier will undoubtedly be a stern test for Loh Kean Yew as he aims to make a deep run in front of his home crowd. Badminton fans can expect a high-octane display of skill and determination from both players as they vie for a place in the next stage of this prestigious tournament.