Among the winners of the Orleans Masters 2026, one name stood out – Sumire Nakade.

The Japanese was playing her first World Tour event – indeed, her first international Open event, for her only previous experience outside the domestic circuit has been the 2025 FISU World University Games. That Nakade, in partnership with the more experienced Miyu Takahashi, would go on to win the women’s doubles title must count as a remarkable feat.

Nakade and Takahashi were in their first event together; on the way to the final they beat pairs like Febriana Dwipuji Kusuma/Meilysa Trias Puspitasari, Lauren Lam/Allison Lee and Rachel Allessya Rose/Febu Setianingrum. The final, against Lin Chih-Chun/Yang Chu Yu, was a tight battle all the way, with Nakade playing with the confidence of someone far more experienced. The Japanese would eke out a 22-20 12-21 21-18 win.

Meanwhile, other standout names at the Orleans Masters included Alex Lanier, Thom Gicquel/Delphine Delrue, Nozomi Okuhara and men’s doubles winners Hu Ke Yuan/Lin Xiang Yi.

For Lanier, it was a welcome return to form after first round exits at his last two tournaments, and his first title since the European Championships last April. Veteran Okuhara recaptured her title-winning form for the first time since December 2023.

The European leg of this year’s HSBC BWF World Tour started with the German Open, which China dominated by winning four titles. The big surprise was Han Qian Xi upstaging Wang Zhi Yi for the biggest title of her career.

The men’s singles final was a Popov family affair; younger brother Christo prevailed for the third time in four meetings over Toma Junior to win his season’s first title.

The pair that stole the show were world No.89s Julien Maio/William Villeger, who’d fallen in the first round of seven of their previous nine tournaments. The French pair, who started in qualifying, upset top seeds Aaron Chia/Soh Wooi Yik, Lee Fang-Chih/Lee Fang-Jen and Chiu Hsiang Chieh/Wang Chi-Lin to make the final.

All England: Great Week for Chinese Taipei

The following week at the All England, the most unanticipated victors were Ye Hong Wei/Nicole Gonzales Chan, who won their first title above the Super 300 level. The Chinese Taipei duo capitalised on the earlier defeats of top seeds Feng Yan Zhe/Huang Dong Ping and second seeds Jiang Zhen Bang/Wei Ya Xin, holding their nerve in the biggest final of their careers to beat Thom Gicquel/Delphine Delrue in straight games.

In men’s doubles, Raymond Indra/Nikolaus Joaquin showed why they are the hottest kids on the block as they surged through the draw beating Kang Min Hyuk/Ki Dong Ju, senior compatriots Fajar Alfian/Muhammad Shohibul Fikri and third seeds Liang Wei Keng/Wang Chang before going down to top seeds Seo Seung Jae/Kim Won Ho in the semifinals.

In men’s singles it was Victor Lai who was the ascendant star, with the 21-year-old continuing to impress with wins over Alex Lanier, Lee Cheuk Yiu and Koki Watanabe. Lai very nearly had Lakshya Sen’s number in their semifinal before the Indian squeezed past. For his part, Sen too had a memorable tournament, starting with his upset of top seed Shi Yu Qi.

The final saw Lin Chun-Yi emerge champion, showcasing Lin Dan-like explosiveness on his way to his first Super 1000 title.

In women’s singles, Wang Zhi Yi shook off a run of 10 straight losses to An Se Young as she stopped the Korean juggernaut in her tracks.

Swiss Open: Ginting Returns

At the Swiss Open, the big story was the return to form of Anthony Sinisuka Ginting, who has had an injury-affected year. The Indonesian, whose comeback earlier this year was derailed by a back injury in January, made his first semifinal in 17 months after starting in the qualifying draw; Ginting beat Zhu Xuan Chen, Wang Tzu Wei, Wang Zheng Xing and Tarun Mannepalli before falling to Yushi Tanaka.

Tanaka would go on to win the final – his first title since the US Open in June 2024, while in women’s singles, Supanida Katethong too broke a longish title drought, with her last coming in May 2024 at the Thailand Open.

Young mixed doubles pair Zhu Yi Jun/Li Qian very nearly stole the limelight from senior compatriots Chen Xing/Zhang Chi as they held match point in the final in a thrilling third game. However, their seniors were up to the task as they held off the challenge.

Among the memorable contests was the defeat of Gabriela Stoeva/Stefani Stoeva from the brink of victory. New combination Li Yi Jing/Wang Yi Duo fought back from a game 12-19 down to turn the final around and claim the title.

In men’s doubles Christian Faust KjÆr/Rasmus KjÆr very nearly made a dream final, having started in the qualifying draw. The Danes had two match points against Lee Fang-Chih/Lee Fang-Jen before the twins edged them at the end.