Malaysia, 22 May, 2025 – Nguyen Thuy Linh made a stunning comeback to defeat Denmark’s Line Christophersen 2-1 in the second round of the Malaysia Masters 500 on May 22, 2025.
Christophersen, 25, currently ranked 35th in the world, was 9 places ahead of Thuy Linh. She has previously won a European Junior Championship gold, a World Junior Championship silver in 2018, and reached a career-high rank of 17th. The two players had met once before, with Thuy Linh winning 2-1 at the 2017 Italian International Challenge.
Facing the 1.76m tall opponent, Thuy Linh started with high clears to the back of the court. However, Christophersen’s quick movement and powerful smashes put Thuy Linh at a disadvantage. Christophersen led 20-17, and despite Thuy Linh saving three set points, she lost the first set 20-22.
During the break, Thuy Linh received tactical advice from coach Hariawan Hong. She returned to the second set with more control, delivering powerful smashes and deceptive cross-court shots. Thuy Linh dominated the second set, winning 21-11 to level the match.
In the decisive third set, both players struggled physically and made several errors. With the score tied at 18-18, Thuy Linh showcased her experience and strategy, winning three consecutive points with precise dropshots, securing a 21-18 victory.
After the match, Thuy Linh posed for photos with a bright smile, basking in the cheers of the Malaysian crowd. Her next opponent in the quarterfinals will be the world No. 2 Wang Zhiyi.
The 2025 Malaysia Masters, part of the BWF Super 500 series, is held at the Axiata Arena in Kuala Lumpur from May 20 to 25, with a total prize pool of $475,000. Besides Thuy Linh, Vietnam has two male players, Le Duc Phat and Nguyen Hai Dang, participating. Hai Dang recently defeated Duc Phat 2-0 in the group stage to progress to the main draw, where he will face Japan’s Yushi Tanaka (world No. 23) next.
Thuy Linh, born November 20, 1997, in Phu Tho, started her professional career at the age of 14. She won the National Badminton Championship in 2015 after four years of competition. Since 2018, she has been Vietnam’s top female player, winning seven consecutive national titles. She has also won the Vietnam Open three times in a row since 2022.
Thuy Linh competed in the Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 Olympics and is currently ranked 29th in the world in women’s singles.
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