KUALA LUMPUR: Having burst onto the international scene as a teenage prodigy, Thai badminton ace Ratchanok Intanon's unwavering dominance at the elite level remains nothing short of dazzling.
In a sport where women's singles players rarely enjoy such longevity, the world No. 16 continues to defy expectations.
Turning 30 next month, Ratchanok is in her remarkable 17th year of professional competition.
Her latest statement came on Friday at the Malaysia Open, where she stormed into the semi-finals—her first last-four appearance in a Super 750 or higher-ranked tournament since the Indonesia Open in June 2023.
The 2022 Malaysia Open champion displayed her vintage form, outmanoeuvring Indonesia's Putri Kusuma Wardani 21-13, 15-21, 21-16 in a thrilling 68-minute encounter.
The victory sets up an intriguing clash with world No. 1 An Se Young of South Korea.
"This means everything," said a beaming Ratchanok, whose recent struggles following her Paris Olympics quarter-final exit had sparked whispers of retirement.
Before this tournament, she had failed to progress beyond the last 16 in eight consecutive premier events (Super 750 or above).
"Reaching the semi-finals of a Super 1000 event reignites my passion," she reflected. "Some questioned whether the Olympics would mark my farewell, but I know my capabilities remain strong. My technique and fitness are still there, and I'm determined to reclaim my place among the top eight."
The odds for her upcoming battle with Se Young appear daunting—Ratchanok has won just once in their nine encounters, with the last eight meetings all ending in defeat. Yet, the Thai veteran faces the challenge with characteristic resilience and wisdom.
"She's human too," Ratchanok said.
"While I acknowledge that she's a strong player, I'm strong too. To overcome her, I need to play an almost perfect game—minimising errors, maintaining constant movement, and staying in control of the rallies. Perhaps she might make a few mistakes too."
Se Young, meanwhile, had a considerably easier route to the semi-finals. The Korean top seed advanced when American Zhang Bei Wen was forced to retire after just 16 minutes of play. Se Young was leading 21-11 when Bei Wen withdrew due to injury.
In another quarter-final, China's Wang Zhi Yi ended Singapore's Yeo Jia Min's impressive run with a 22-20, 21-16 victory.