Alex Lanier became the first French player in history to win the Singapore Open men’s singles title on Sunday, defeating home hero Loh Kean Yew 17-21, 21-15, 21-14 in a pulsating Alex Lanier Singapore Open 2026 final that left the Singapore Indoor Stadium breathless. For the 21-year-old Frenchman, it was the biggest win of his career. For Singapore, it was a heartbreaking near-miss in the quest to end a 64-year wait for a home men’s singles champion.
Alex Lanier Singapore Open 2026: How the Final Unfolded
Loh Kean Yew arrived at Sunday’s final having delivered one of the most memorable Singapore Open runs in living memory. The 28-year-old former world champion had beaten higher-ranked opponents in every round, culminating in a gutsy three-game victory over Japan’s Koki Watanabe in the semi-finals. The crowd, already electric all week, reached a fever pitch for the title match.
Lanier showed immediately that he had no intention of being overwhelmed by the occasion. He burst into a stunning 6-0 lead in the opening game, immediately placing Loh under pressure. Yet the Singaporean fed off the roar of the crowd to fight back — point by point, he clawed his way back from the deficit, drew level at 10-10, and then produced a composed finish to seal the opener 21-17. History was just two games away.
Lanier’s response in the second game was emphatic. Once again he raced to a 7-1 lead. Once again Loh fought back to 14-13. But this time, Lanier slammed the door shut with six unanswered points. Second game to the Frenchman, 21-15. The match was level.
The third game followed the same devastating pattern. A third 6-0 lead for Lanier. A third comeback attempt from Loh. This time, however, there was no route back. Lanier maintained his composure, controlled the pace of rallies, and sealed the title 21-14 to complete an extraordinary performance. It was clinical, relentless badminton — delivered under extraordinary pressure, in an arena willing the other player to win.
Singapore’s 64-Year Wait Continues
For Singaporeans, the defeat was a gut punch — and yet the week represented something remarkable for local badminton. Loh became the first Singaporean man to reach the Singapore Open final since Ronald Susilo in 2002. The last Singaporean man to win the title was Wee Choon Seng in 1962. To come within two games of ending that 64-year drought, on home court, in front of thousands of passionate supporters, speaks to Loh’s extraordinary quality and resilience under pressure.
“I just told myself to keep biting and fighting,” Loh had said after his semi-final win. He did exactly that in the final. Lanier was simply the better player on the night.
At 28, with the World Championships and more Super 750 tournaments ahead, Singapore’s wait for a home champion is deferred — not extinguished. Sunday’s run has shown that Loh Kean Yew remains a contender capable of going deep at the biggest events on the BWF calendar.
An Se Young, Satwik-Chirag and the Other Champions
Finals day in Singapore delivered beyond the men’s singles drama. World number one An Se Young produced another commanding display in the women’s singles, defeating Japan’s Akane Yamaguchi 21-11, 17-21, 21-19 to claim her third Singapore Open title and fourth individual trophy of 2026. The Korean superstar had battled through illness during the tournament week but showed none of it when it mattered most.
India’s Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty ended a two-year title drought by winning the men’s doubles, defeating Indonesia’s Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Shohibul Fikri 18-21, 21-17, 21-16 in 73 minutes. Denmark’s Mathias Christiansen and Alexandra Boje came from behind to reclaim the mixed doubles crown, 17-21, 21-12, 21-12, securing their second Singapore Open title together.
It was a fitting conclusion to a brilliant week of badminton in Singapore. For Lanier, this is a landmark win on one of the sport’s biggest stages. For Loh, and for Singapore, Sunday night showed just how close that magical moment might be.
For more on Singapore badminton and local sports, read Loh Kean Yew vs Alex Lanier: Singapore’s Home Hero Eyes History in KFF Singapore Open 2026 Final, Loh Kean Yew Eyes Maiden Singapore Open 2026 Final After Historic Semifinal Berth and visit our Sports section.
