Lucas Claerbout bagged the biggest win of his men’s singles career today, beating top seed Anthony Sinisuka Ginting in the Korea Open 2022 opening round.

The 21-16 21-13 victory, the 29-year-old’s first over a world top five, was achieved in 42 minutes against the off-form Indonesian at the year’s second HSBC BWF World Tour Super 500 event.

For the world No.5 Ginting, the loss continues his underwhelming start to 2022, following exits at YONEX GAINWARD German Open 2022 (last 16), YONEX All England Open 2022 (quarterfinal) and YONEX Swiss Open 2022 (semifinal).

Another men’s singles player to fall early was home hope Heo Kwanghee, who lost 21-12 21-16 to China’s world No.154 Weng Hong Yang. India’s Prannoy H. S., runner-up to Jonatan Christie in Basel two weeks ago, also succumbed to Cheam June Wei in straight games.

Prannoy’s compatriot Lakshya Sen, who has had an impressive start to the season, was taken the distance by 21-year-old Korean Choi Ji Hoon before prevailing 14-21 21-16 21-18.

Leading women singles seed Chen Yu Fei, however, did not encounter such problems in her opener, needing just 36 minutes to see off Phittayaporn Chaiwan 21-12 21-14.

NOTEWORTHY:

• Malaysia’s Goh Jin Wei, who in 2015 defeated Chen to become world junior champion, marked her international return after 10 months with a 21-19 16-21 21-17 result against Asuka Takahashi.
• Seven-time champion Lee Yong Dae’s comeback after more than a year lasted only 34 minutes, as he and teenaged partner Jae Hyeon Kim lost 21-10 21-13 to compatriots Kim Jaehwan/Young Hyuk Kim.
• World No.24 Han Yue was stunned by Malvika Bansod, a player ranked 39 places lower.

→ Results (Day 1)

→ Order of Play (Day 2)