Swiss Open: Stirring Comeback by Li/Wang
New combination Li Yi Jing and Wang Yi Duo fought back from the brink of defeat to Stoeva sisters Gabriela and Stefani in the semifinals of the YONEX Swiss Open 2026 to make their second successive final.
· BWF STAFF
The Stoevas led by a game and 19-12, but the Chinese refused to relent and forced the Bulgarians to make mistakes under pressure, to draw level at 19. The sisters had one more shot at making the final with a 20-19 lead, but Li/Wang held firm to draw level. They maintained a lead all through the decider to make their second final in two tournaments, having reached the title round of the German Open too.
The crestfallen Stoevas, still seeking the first title of the year, admitted to losing focus when they were ahead.
“Of course we are disappointed because we lost but we are happy with the performance here. Disappointed because we had our chances and we were leading by so much in the second game,” said Gabriela. “But this is part of the game, so we just need to learn from our mistakes and come back better prepared. We should try to enjoy the game even if we lose points. When we lose focus it’s hard to come back.”