Michelle Li broke her four-year quarterfinal jinx by beating American rival Beiwen Zhang to reach the semifinal of Hong Kong Open 2025.
She has reached the last-four stage of a Super 500 event for the first time since 2021.
The world No.16 rallied from a game down to edge past Zhang 16-21, 22-20, 21-17 in a tense 56-minute encounter, not only securing her first semifinal at this level since the 2021 HYLO Open, but also ending a two-year losing streak against her fellow Pan American contender.
Michelle Li Into The Semifinals
Despite a rollercoaster performance marked by unforced errors and missed leads-including a 13-8 advantage in the opening game and a squandered 20–17 cushion in the second- Li held her nerve in the decider. The 33-year-old relied on her trademark resilience and court coverage as Zhang began to falter in the longer rallies.
“I don’t think I was performing my best today. There were a lot of unforced errors,” Li admitted post-match. “Hopefully I can clean up for tomorrow, but I’m happy to reach a Super 500 semifinal again.”
“Towards the end, she started making more errors as the rallies got longer. I was just trying to hang in there, even if it was kind of ugly. I just tried to grind as much as I could.”
The win is especially meaningful for Li, who has battled a series of injuries in recent years and has struggled to consistently return to the top tier of competition.
“It’s been a tough few years. I give all glory to God. I’m so lucky to still be doing what I’m doing.”
Li will now face a formidable challenge in top seed Wang Zhi Yi, who leads their head-to-head 2-1. Wang progressed comfortably and remains the title favorite as the tournament heads into its closing stages.
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Lin Hsiang Ti Stuns Fourth Seed to Make Final Four
In the bottom half of the draw, Taiwan’s Lin Hsiang Ti pulled off a major upset, defeating fourth seed Tomoka Miyazaki of Japan 13-21, 21-9, 21-14 to reach her first Super 500 semifinal since the 2024 Korea Open.
After dropping the first game, the world No.24 found her rhythm in the second, exploiting Miyazaki’s fatigue with sharp angles and deep pushes to the backcourt.
“I’m happy to stop this streak. This win gives me more confidence,” said Lin, who had lost her previous three meetings with the Japanese star. “She got tired towards the end and I’m glad I could take advantage.”
Lin now faces defending champion Han Yue, setting up a high-stakes semifinal that promises contrasting styles and intensity.
Women’s Singles Semifinal Lineup – Hong Kong Open 2025
- Wang Zhi Yi [1] vs Michelle Li
- Han Yue [Defending Champion] vs Lin Hsiang Ti
