An unbelievable day at the SATHIO GROUP Australian Badminton Open 2025 began with a marathon match in the women’s doubles.
In the All-Indonesian final, history lined the court. Now on opposite sides of the net, Rachel Allessya Rose and Meilysa Trias Puspitasari were once a dominant duo, playing together from 2017 until earlier this year.
In today’s final, Rose took to the court with Febi Setianingrum. Their goal? Upset the favourites, Puspitasari and Febriana Dwipuji Kusuma.
In a gruelling 109-minute match, it was eventually the underdogs that pushed to glory.
“It means a lot because the effort is not easy,” said Rose. “We had to win against the top levels of our own seniors. We showed that we can, and that is enough to increase our confidence.”
Another underdog story came in the men’s doubles, when Raymond Indra/Nikolaus Jaoquin (INA) took down world No. 13, Fajar Alfian/Muhammad Shohibul Fikri (INA) in an up-and-down final.
Their victory was the pair’s biggest title of their career.
“This [win] means we have proven we can compete at the top level,” said Indra. “But we have only just risen; we are not satisfied yet because this is only our first win. We want more.”
In the men’s doubles, a dominant second game from Lakshya Sen (IND) handed him his first title of the season over Japan’s Yushi Tanaka.
After battling with injury in the early parts of 2025, today’s win is a major confidence boost for Sen.
“I kept my hard work going throughout the season. I am very happy to end the season on a good note,” he said. “I’m very excited and looking forward to the next season now, and I am really happy with the way I played today.”
Meanwhile, Chen Tang Jie/Toh Ee Wei (MAS) faced Jafar Hidayatullah/Felisha Alberta Nathaniel Pasaribu (INA) for the fifth time this year in the mixed doubles.
The Chen/Toh were hungry for their first title since the world championships, while Hidayatullah/Pasaribu were looking for their first Super 500 gold.
For the World Champions, the crowd made all the difference.
A Malaysian flag waved proudly in the audience willed Chen/Toh to victory.
“We were really happy that they came to support us, along with our fans back home,” said Toh. “This win today is definitely for them.”
In the final match of the day, rising star Putri Kusuma Wardani took on the famed An Se Young.
Where many before her had stumbled, Wardani survived. While no other player had reached 11 points in a game against An, the Indonesian player raced to the interval ahead.
After a close first game, the audience was preparing for a long fight for the title.
But this was when the Olympic Champion showed her strength.
An Se Young stretched Wardani throughout the second game to finish the match 21-16, 21-14.
This title is the Korean player’s tenth this season, equalling her personal best and is only one shy of Kento Momota’s record.
For An, playing in Sydney again was a special experience.
“The Australian Open is fantastic because of all of the fans encouraging me and the support I get here.”
Photos via BWF/Badminton Photo
