World badminton star An Seyoung will compete in the 2026 French Open (Super 750) running from Oct. 20 to 25 in Paris, with national team coaches confirming her right Achilles tendon pain from the previous week’s Danish tournament is not a severe injury, sportschosun.com reported.

Achilles Tendon Scare at the Denmark Open

The 24-year-old South Korean singles player sparked health concerns during the Oct. 18 final of the Denmark Open in Odense. Trailing 2-5 in the third game against Japan’s Akane Yamaguchi after splitting the first two games, An slipped on the court and clutched her right heel in pain. Despite the mid-match stoppage and lingering discomfort, she rallied for a 21-18 comeback victory to claim her ninth title of the season and her second Denmark Open crown. Afterward, she acknowledged her poor condition and stated she would consult with team trainers before deciding on her Paris schedule.

Paris Record and Historic Three-Peat Pursuit

Affectionately nicknamed the “Woman of Paris,” An holds deep ties to the French capital, having captured the gold medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics alongside French Open titles in 2019, 2024, and 2025. Last year’s victory marked her third career title in Paris, making her the first woman in tournament history to achieve that milestone in singles. Entering this week’s Super 750 event, she aims to secure an unprecedented third championship.

Favorable Early Draw Following Seeding Adjustments

The Badminton World Federation (BWF) previewed the tournament under the briefing “Stars Assemble in Paris,” confirming An’s quest begins against Denmark’s Amalie Schulz. Schulz, ranked No. 44 in the world, entered the 32-player main draw following a late seeding adjustment triggered by the withdrawal of Japan’s Tomoka Miyazaki due to an injury sustained in Odense. That shuffle allowed India’s Pusarla V. Sindhu to avoid the top seed in the opening round, leaving world No. 1 An with a favorable opening path.

Projected Bracket and Head-to-Head Roadblocks

If An advances past the opening rounds, her projected path includes a potential quarterfinal against China’s Han Yue and a semifinal meeting with Yamaguchi. An holds favorable head-to-head records against both opponents. In the final, she is expected to face China’s Wang Zhiyi. An has dominated their recent matchups, winning 13 encounters since 2025, with her only defeat against Wang coming in the March 2026 All England Open final.