WTT China Smash highlighted by string of major upsets in early rounds in Beijing
Thailand's Orawan Paranang (L) celebrates after upsetting China's Sun Yingsha in a women's singles match in the round of 32 at the WTT China Smash in Beijing, China, October 7, 2026. (Photo: VCG)
Thailand's Orawan Paranang pulled off a stunning victory at the WTT China Smash, shocking two-time defending champion Sun Yingsha 3-1 in the second round of women's singles action on Wednesday in Beijing.
Sun and Paranang traded points early in the opening game, with the Chinese world number one edging ahead in the closing stages to prevail 11-8.
Paranang responded strongly in the second game, racing out to a 4-0 lead and maintaining the pressure to put it away 11-4.
The Thai moved in front 9-8 in the third game, before claiming it 12-10 after a tense finish.
She then converted match point to wrap up the fourth game 12-10 to complete the upset. The Thai qualifier and world number 101 reached the last 16 after knocking out second-seeded Sun, who returned to the top of the rankings earlier this month.
Paranang's next opponent will be Japan's 14th-seeded Honoka Hashimoto.
In another key women's singles match, fourth-ranked Kuai Man beat Zong Geman 3-1. She will face another Chinese compatriot, Zhu Sibing, in the round of 16.
China's Zhou Qihao prepares to hit a shot against compatriot Xiang Peng in a men's singles match in the round of 32 at the WTT China Smash in Beijing, China, October 7, 2026. (Photo: Weibo)
In the men's singles second round, Zhou Qihao faced Xiang Peng in an all-Chinese showdown. Trailing by two games, Zhou battled back to force a decider. After saving two match points, he snatched the fifth game 13-11 to complete a 3-2 comeback and will meet Japan's Tomokazu Harimoto in the last 16.
China's Kuai Man (L) and Wang Manyu celebrate after beating Australia's Yangzi Liu and Germany's Yuan Wan in a women's doubles match in the round of 16 at the WTT China Smash in Beijing, China, October 7, 2026. (Photo: Weibo)
The women's doubles draw saw Kuai Man and Wang Manyu defeat Australia's Yangzi Liu and Germany's Yuan Wan 3-0 to reach the quarterfinals.
China's second-seeded pair started quickly, with Kuai's forehand winner bringing up game point, en route to taking the opener 11-5.
The second was much tighter, as Kuai and Wang saved a game point before turning the tables to triumph 12-10 on another strong Kuai forehand, doubling their overall lead to 2-0.
A similar pattern followed in the third, with Kuai and Wang saving another game point before holding on to win 14-12. The Chinese duo will face compatriots Gao Yuxin and Xiang Junlin in the last eight.