The Yonex French Open 2025 has suffered a significant shake-up before the first shuttle has even been struck. Top seed and defending champion Shi Yuqi has withdrawn from the tournament due to a shoulder injury, casting uncertainty over the men’s singles draw and leaving fans disappointed ahead of the action at the Glaz Arena in Cesson-Sévigné, Rennes.
Shi, the reigning world champion, had been looking to defend his French Open crown after an impressive runner-up finish at last week’s Denmark Open. The Chinese ace was slated to open his campaign against Wang Tzu-wei of Chinese Taipei in the first round. However, following medical advice, Shi opted to pull out of the event to allow his shoulder to recover fully.
In his absence, the draw has been reshuffled under the seed withdrawal movement, promoting Thailand’s Kunlavut Vitidsarn into a higher position in the bracket. Vitidsarn, who captured silver at the Tokyo 2024 Olympics, will now face Wang Tzu Wei in what promises to be a thrilling first-round clash. Interestingly, Shi Yu Qi had defeated Vitidsarn in last year’s French Open — a match that showcased the Chinese star’s dominance and tactical brilliance. This year, however, the Thai shuttler will see a fresh opportunity to capitalize on the champion’s absence.
Shi’s withdrawal leaves the men’s singles category wide open, with several players now eyeing a rare chance to claim one of the HSBC BWF World Tour Super 750 titles. The likes of Anthony Ginting, Kodai Naraoka, and Loh Kean Yew could all emerge as strong contenders, as the competition field becomes even more unpredictable.
The men’s singles isn’t the only category hit by withdrawals. China’s top women’s doubles pair, Liu Shengshu and Tan Ning, have also pulled out of the tournament. The duo, who reached the quarterfinals in Denmark last week, were forced to withdraw as Liu continues to recover from an injury sustained during that event. Their exit sees Japan’s Rin Iwanaga and Kie Nakanishi move up to occupy their place in the draw.
In addition, Wang Zhengxing (men’s singles) has also withdrawn, joining Shi on the sidelines. In the women’s singles, Thailand’s Pornpawee Chochuwong and Supanida Katethong—both established top-20 players—have pulled out, likely due to lingering fatigue following the intense European swing.
The mixed doubles category has also seen notable withdrawals, including Dhruv Kapila/Tanisha Crasto of India and Kevin Lee/Eliana Zhang, which will slightly alter the dynamics of the early rounds.
Despite the setbacks, the French Open’s depth of talent ensures that badminton fans will still witness elite-level competition throughout the week. Several promotions have already been confirmed as replacements: in men’s singles, Victor Lai and Julien Carraggi have earned main draw entries; in women’s singles, Wen Yu Zhang and Juliana Viana Vieira will join the field; while Nikol Carulla/Carmen Maria Jimenez (women’s doubles) and Mathias Christiansen/Alexandra Boje, Oleksii Titov, and Yevheniia Kantemyr (mixed doubles) will also step in to complete the main draws.
The withdrawals undoubtedly change the complexion of the tournament, creating new storylines and opportunities. Fans can now look forward to seeing whether emerging stars can seize the moment and make deep runs in Rennes. With Paris 2024 Olympic medalists, World Champions, and rising European talents all in the mix, the 2025 edition of the French Open promises unpredictable drama and world-class badminton action across six days of play.
While Shi Yu Qi’s absence is a blow to the tournament’s star power, it also adds intrigue to the race for BWF World Tour Finals qualification later this year in Hangzhou. Every match, from the opening round to the finals, will now carry even greater importance as players chase vital ranking points — and perhaps a breakthrough title in the absence of the defending champion.