Vietnam's top player Nguyen Thuy Linh fails to win Vietnam Open for 4th consecutive time

On the afternoon of September 14, Vietnam's No. 1 female player Nguyen Thuy Linh failed to win the Vietnam Open Badminton Championship for the 4th consecutive time after losing 0-2 to Chinese player Cai Yanyan in the final match.

Nguyen Thuy Linh could not win the Vietnam Open for the 4th consecutive time. Screenshot

In the women's singles final of the Vietnam Open, despite being ranked far below Nguyen Thuy Linh (world No. 18), Chinese player Cai Yanyan (world No. 107) demonstrated the skill of a former world No. 14, at times outplaying the Vietnamese representative.

Nguyen Thuy Linh on the podium receiving the runner-up award at the Vietnam Open 2025.

Cai Yanyan showcased a fast-paced playing style and sharp shot control, which caused some difficulty for Thuy Linh in the first game, leading to a number of unforced errors. The Chinese player quickly pulled ahead, at one point extending the lead to 4 points, then 8 points (14-6). However, the Dong Nai native responded with an explosive stretch, narrowing the gap to just 1 point. Still, several unfortunate unforced errors put Thuy Linh in a tough spot. Cai capitalized on the opportunities, maintained her lead, and closed out the game 21-17 to take a 1-0 advantage.

Nguyen Thuy Linh staged a strong comeback in the second game. Regaining her touch and rhythm, Thuy Linh confidently applied pressure, executing difficult shots to take a 7-3 lead, then extended it to 11-6 at the mid-game interval. The Dong Nai native continued to maintain a 3–4 point cushion up to 17, keeping hopes alive of forcing a deciding game. However, a string of errors afterward saw her lose momentum and surrender the advantage.

Drawing on her class, Cai Yanyan tenaciously chased down the score and gradually closed the gap. After persistent efforts, the Chinese player leveled the game at 17-17 and 18-18, then edged ahead at a critical moment thanks to a fortunate net cord shot, reaching match point first. Although Thuy Linh saved two match points, she ultimately fell 22-24 after sending a long return out of bounds, losing 0-2 overall to Cai Yanyan.

With this defeat, Vietnam's top female player missed out on winning the Vietnam Open for the 4th consecutive time, finishing as runner-up in the women's singles of the Vietnam Open.

By Anh Huy – Translated by Mai Nga, Minho