▲ An Se-young extended her head-to-head lead over Wang Zhiyi to 20–5, reaffirming an overwhelming edge so pronounced that even Chinese outlets used extraordinary language to describe it. An opened every tie from the group stage through the final and posted a perfect six straight wins. ©Korea Badminton Association
[SPOTV News=Reporter Jo Yong-woon] An Se-young (24, Samsung Life) dominated the badminton court so completely at the 2026 Uber Cup that even China’s media praised her performance.
Her decisive win over China’s Wang Zhiyi in the women’s team final on May 3 went well beyond a routine victory. State broadcaster CCTV heaped praise on An and framed Wang’s loss as a “sacred lesson,” underlining the match’s significance.
On the day, An looked every bit a world No. 1, beating the world No. 2 Wang in straight sets, 21–10, 21–13.
An controlled the match from the opening rally, constantly dictating tempo and keeping Wang off balance. CCTV’s commentators marveled at her every movement and carried that admiration into their postgame analysis, arguing that the experience of facing a player like An is “an asset you can’t buy.”
Chinese analysts were unusually pointed in their assessment, calling An’s play a new standard for modern badminton. They suggested that, for Wang, simply trading rallies with An already places her at an elite level.
▲ They added that testing the gap at this level is a meaningful process for Chinese badminton and urged seeing the defeat as more than a setback—almost a blessing. ©Korea Badminton Association
The head-to-head margin widened further: An’s win pushed the series to 20–5, solidifying her as Wang’s clear nemesis. Over the past two seasons she has won 12 of their 13 meetings, extending a one-sided run.
CCTV acknowledged Wang’s technique and fighting spirit but said Wang couldn’t match An’s legendary concentration and endurance in high-pressure moments. The commentary emphasized that recognizing that gap is where improvement begins.
Beyond the match itself, the title added another milestone to An’s résumé. At 24, she has now completed the five-major Grand Slam—Olympic gold, World Championships, Asian Games, Asian Championships, and the All England Open—and capped it with a team trophy when Korea lifted the Uber Cup. That sweep has prompted frequent comparisons to the game’s all-time greats.
CCTV pointed to An’s staggering 94.8% win rate this year, noting it surpasses the peak-season percentages of legends like Lin Dan and Lee Chong Wei, and hailed her as the rare emergence of a true superstar.
▲ An’s head-to-head against Wang now stands at 20–5, and she maintained perfect form from the group stage to the final with six straight wins. ©Yonhap / EPA
It’s rare for Chinese media to show that level of deference to an opponent. CCTV’s commentators repeatedly urged that Wang treat the 0–2 loss not as an endpoint but as the start of a major leap—setting An’s standard as the target for future challenges.
An Se-young’s streak of success has now reached a level that draws admiration beyond Korea’s borders, securing her status as one of the sport’s defining figures.
