China Open: For Chou, Age Only Another Opponent
When Chou Tien Chen first stepped onto the international circuit in 2007, Sunday's opponent Toma Junior Popov was just nine years old.
· PREM KUMAR
Nineteen years later, the Chinese Taipei veteran showed that experience, resilience and discipline can still outlast youth.
At 36 years and 200 days, Chou became the oldest player to win a Super 1000 title, defeating Popov 21-15 7-21 21-13 to lift the VICTOR China Open 2026 crown. It capped one of the finest weeks of his long career, having also eliminated top-seeded defending champion Shi Yu Qi and All England winner Lin Chun-Yi en route to the title.
The final itself reflected everything that has defined Chou's career – patience, composure and an ability to find solutions. He recovered from an 11-6 deficit to steal the opening game, weathered Popov's response in the second, then surged into a seven-point lead in the decider before calmly keeping the Frenchman at arm's length.