Still feeling trouble in her right knee, but with that right hand gorgeously caressing the shuttle to various corners, Ratchanok Intanon took her place in the quarterfinals of the TOYOTA Thailand Open 2026.

The world No.7 had hurt herself at the Indonesia Masters in January and said she wasn’t fully fit – then added she preferred not to be 100 per cent as she could let her skill do the talking. And talk it did when needed against rising prospect Thalita Ramadhani Wiryawan, who impressed Intanon with her abilities. The Indonesian was tenacious, but struggled to control the shuttle in difficult conditions, and Intanon had a comfortable passage at the end. The 21-16 19-21 21-15 result gave the No.3 seed a date with Japan’s Hina Akechi.

“I’m still not very fit, and I just do what I have to, 80 or 90 per cent. I don’t expect to be 100 per cent because sometimes when I’m 100 per cent fit, I cannot play with good quality. Sometimes it depends on mentality.

“Sometimes I couldn’t find rhythm, because this the first time I’m playing her, and I wasn’t sure when I should push the pace. Because she tried to play slow, but sometimes, when I pushed faster, she was already waiting for me. So sometimes I had to fight with myself on what I had to do, but I think that win or lose, it’s like training.

“Her technical skills are quite good. I think if she gets stronger, she can be a very good player. I feel she can be good because she already has skill. Sometimes players are strong, but they don’t have technical skills, but she already has the handwork, and if she gets stronger, I believe that she can be better.”

Intanon’s first Thailand Open was, incredibly, 18 years ago. She lost in qualifying at her first Thailand Open in 2008, made the final in 2012, and won it in 2013 and 2017. She made one more final, in 2019. The Nimibutr Stadium is a venue she knows well.

“I’m always happy to play here, even though I play with pressure sometimes, but I’m happy that I can play the quarterfinals this year, that I can play despite the injury. I have to face my condition, so I will take care and I hope it doesn’t get worse.

“If I keep good speed I can control the shuttle in the drift because I believe, with my handwork, I can control the shuttle, but also my game style is attacking, and when you attack, if there’s more speed on the shuttle, we get greater chances to win the point.

“Every year and every day sometimes the wind (direction) changes. I feel I have to face it, and the opponent also has to control and adapt. If you want to be a good player, you have to quickly adapt.”

What They Said

“The wind is pretty strong, the shuttles are fast, so it’s tricky to play in there, with the humidity and heat. Difficult conditions for sure. So different from the Thomas Cup in Horsens – it’s polar opposites.” – Anders Antonsen

“I don’t want my family to come to the stadium, because I feel I want to fight by myself. If my father comes, he pushes me a lot. He can support me on TV!” – Ratchanok Intanon

“When I was young, my mum and dad brought me to cheer for my seniors. So I thought one day I have to be here on court, and want make them proud and everyone come to support me, and that is a very special memory for me.” – Busanan Ongbamrungphan

Highlights

» Among the day’s biggest surprises was Moh Zaki Ubaidillah’s tame exit to Jeon Hyeon Jin, 21-13 21-5.

» Qualifiers Sayaka Hirota/Ayako Sakuramoto made their second straight quarterfinal after teaming up this year.

» Koki Watanabe got the better of compatriot and No.6 seed Kodai Naraoka, 21-14 14-21 21-15.

→Results (Day 3) 

→Order of Play (Day 4)