Rasmus Gemke saves match point to set up French Open clash with Christo Popov

Rasmus Gemke staged a remarkable comeback on Wednesday, saving a match point against Japan’s Yudai Okimoto to secure a 16-21, 23-21, 21-10 victory and book his place in the Round of 16 at the French Open badminton championships in Paris.

The Danish shuttler will next face home favourite Christo Popov as he looks to build on his recent run of strong performances.

Gemke arrived in Paris brimming with confidence after reaching the quarter-finals of the 2026 Denmark Open. He made headlines with a major first-round upset over world No. 1 Kunlavut Vitidsarn before eventually falling to Canada’s Victor Lai in a hard-fought three-game quarter-final.

However, the Dane found it difficult to establish his usual rhythm in his opening match at the French Open against world No. 21 Yudai Okimoto.

Despite trailing 2-10 early in the opening game, the Japanese player mounted an impressive comeback to take the first set 21-16, putting Gemke under immediate pressure.

The second game proved far more competitive, with both players exchanging attacking shots and refusing to give ground. Okimoto appeared on the verge of securing victory when he earned a match point at 20-19.

Gemke, however, held his nerve at the crucial moment, saving the match point before turning the momentum in his favour to claim the second game 23-21 and force a deciding set.

The missed opportunity proved costly for Okimoto, who struggled to regain his composure in the final game. Gemke seized control, dictating the rallies and closing out the contest emphatically with a 21-10 victory.

Having survived a major scare, Gemke now turns his attention to a challenging Round of 16 showdown against France’s Christo Popov, who will have the home crowd behind him in Paris.