China Open 2026: Chou Tien-chen, 36, wins a Super 1000 against France's Toma Junior Popov
On 26 July 2026 in Changzhou the Chinese Taipei veteran won 21-15, 7-21, 21-13; China took the mixed and women's doubles.
Men's singles
Chinese Taipei's Chou Tien-chen, 36 and world No. 6, beat France's Toma Junior Popov, 27 and world No. 16, 21-15, 7-21, 21-13 in the China Open final in Changzhou on Sunday 26 July 2026, in just over an hour, reports AFP via Gulf News and The Peninsula. It is his first Super 1000 title since the 2019 Indonesia Open, and the agency calls him the oldest champion in the category. A video review showed Popov's last return landed out. The two articles carry the same agency text, so the singles result rests on one source.
Other finals
CGTN confirms two Chinese titles: Guo Xinwa and Chen Fanghui beat defending champions Feng Yanzhe and Huang Dongping 25-23, 20-22, 21-15 in mixed doubles (87 minutes; Gulf News says 88), and Liu Shengshu and Tan Ning beat Japan's Yuki Fukushima and Mayu Matsumoto 21-14, 21-19 in women's doubles. According to Gulf News alone, Japan's Akane Yamaguchi beat China's Chen Yufei 21-18, 21-16 in women's singles, and Indonesia's Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Shohibul Fikri beat Kim Won-ho and Seo Seung-jae 16-21, 21-19, 21-19 in men's doubles.
Why it matters
Popov's brother Christo, ranked fifth, lost in the round of 16 at the same event, Gulf News notes: two French brothers in the top 16 of the same event.