From 3 p.m. to around 10 p.m., the quarterfinals will be played on three courts at the YONEX German Open. After Matthias Kicklitz, the last German representative, was eliminated on Thursday, the competition continues today. Nine matches between Asia and Europe are on the schedule, ten matches between Asian athletes, and one all-European quarterfinal. In any case, fans at the Westenergie Sports Hall can look forward to world-class badminton.
“Match of the Day”
Friday, February 27, 2026
Presented by
Men’s Singles, TV Court 1, 4:40 p.m.
Christo Popov (FRA, seed 1, WR 5, prize money $536,159, age 23)
vs. Ng Ka Long Angus (HKG, WR 31, prize money $484,713, age 31)
The match of the day pits the YONEX German Open winners of 2023 and 2024 against each other.
Christo Popov is currently riding a wave of success—on December 21, he became the first Frenchman to win the HSBC BWF World Tour Finals, which features only the best players on the World Tour. In Hangzhou, China, he won the final against Shi Yu Qi (CHN) 21:19, 21:9. Second at the French and Swiss Opens, third at the European Championships, the China Masters, in Japan, Singapore, and Hong Kong – 2025 was a great year for Christo. With the European Championship title for the French men’s team in Istanbul, 2026 has also gotten off to a good start.
Ng Ka Long Angus has been on the World Tour for a few years longer. Last year, the player from Hong Kong “only” reached the quarterfinals twice in a World Tour event. His last victory was some time ago – Ng won the Macau Open in 2024.
Other highlights of the day in the quarterfinals
All times are estimates and depend on the duration of the preceding matches.
Top seeds’ matches
In addition to Christo Popov, Wang Zhi Yi in the women’s singles and sisters Gabriela and Stefanie Stoeva are also among the top seeds still in the tournament. Julien Maio/William Villeger’s victory in the men’s doubles against favorites Aaron Chia/Soh Wooi on Thursday can certainly be described as a sensation, as the two Frenchmen surpassed themselves and sent the world number two pair from Malaysia home early, or rather to the YONEX All England in Birmingham, which will be held next week.
Women’s singles, TV Court 1, 3:30 p.m.
Wang Zhi Yi (CHN, seed 1, WR 2, prize money $1,264,829, age 25)
vs. Line Christophersen (DEN, WR 24, prize money $138,170, age 26)
Wang Zhi Yi plays in a discipline in which the world number one An Se Young is currently sweeping the board, leaving Wang to settle for second place again in India in January. In 2025, Wang won in Hong Kong, at the Malaysia Masters and the China Open. Wang reached the finals at the World Tour Finals, the All England and French Open, as well as in Japan, Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, and Denmark.
Line Christophersen finished third at the HYLO Open and the US Open in 2025, second at the Macau Open, and reached the quarterfinals at the European Championships.
Women’s Doubles, TV Court 1, 5:40 p.m.
Gabriela and Stefanie Stoeva (BUL, seeded 1, WR 10, prize money USD 223,319, ages 31/30)
vs. Bao Li Jing/Luo Xu Min (CHN, seeded 8, both 23 years old)
The Stoeva sisters caused a sensation with the Bulgarian national team on February 15 when they became European team champions in Istanbul against favorites Denmark. In 2025, they racked up tournament victories at the Odisha Masters in India, the Turkiye International in Istanbul, the Al Ain Master in the Emirates, the Belgian International in Leuven, Belgium, the Italy Open in Bolzano, the Iran International and, above all, the European Championship title.
This is the first tournament together for the two Chinese players. However, Luo Xu Min already won the women’s doubles final at the YONEX German Open in 2024 together with Li Yijing.
Other interesting matches on Friday
Fans at the Westenergie Sports Hall will be treated to a total of 20 matches on three courts. The following two matches are just two of the many opportunities to enjoy world-class badminton. The complete schedule and all results are available from the Badminton World Federation (BWF), where further information on all players can also be found.
Men’s Doubles, TV Court 1, 4:20 p.m.
Fang-Chih Lee/Fang-Jen Lee (TPE, WR 23, prize money $78,319, both 28 years old)
vs. Julien Maio/William Villeger (FRA, WR 89, prize money $5,376, 31/25 years old)
After Thursday’s victory over top seeds Aaron Chia/Soh Wooi Yik (MAS), William Villeger was deeply moved by the great success and fantastic performance together with his doubles partner Julien Maio. Julien and William were successful in 2025, finishing third in the Dutch Open and winning bronze at the European Championships in Denmark.
Fang-Chih Lee and Fang-Jen Lee reached the quarterfinals of the Thailand Masters in 2026, finished third in Hong Kong, Macau, and Switzerland in 2025, and won the Canada Open. At the 2025 YGO edition, the two Lees were eliminated in the quarterfinals.
Women’s Doubles, Court 3, 6:20 p.m.
Lui Lok Lok/Tsang Hiu Yan (HKG, WR 29, prize money USD 17,063, ages 23/24)
vs. Amallia Cahaya Pratiwi/Siti Fadia Silva Ramadhanti (INA, WR 90, prize money USD 11,688, ages 24/25)
On Thursday, the iron law of badminton tournaments was confirmed once again – the last game always goes to three sets. Lui Lok Lok, whose first name “Lok” translates as “luck,” was particularly happy. Together with her partner Tsang Hiu Yan, she ensured that the round of 16 was the end of the road for Simona Pilgaard and Signe Schulz. In the first set, Pilgaard and Schulz were still on course, winning 22-20, but then Lui Lok Lok and Tsang Hiu set the course for the quarterfinals, derailing the Danish express 21-16, 21-18. The Hong Kong duo’s greatest successes in 2025 were the quarterfinals in Macau and Thailand.
Amallia Cahaya Pratiwi/Siti Fadia Silva Ramadhanti got off to a good start in 2026, securing the title at the Princess Sirivannavari Thailand Masters.
Photo: Christo Popov © Sven Heise
Text: Sven Heise