Alex Lanier denied Loh Kean Yew a fairytale home triumph on Sunday at the Singapore Open 2025, battling back from a game down to win 17-21, 21-15, 21-14 and claim the men's singles crown. The 21-year-old Frenchman became the first French men's singles player to win the Singapore Open, securing his second BWF Super 750 title in the process.

A Homecoming Dream Denied

For Loh Kean Yew, the defeat was a crushing end to what had been a stirring week. The former world champion had been chasing history — no Singaporean man had lifted the home singles trophy since 1962, a 63-year drought that a packed and vociferous home arena desperately wanted him to end. Loh rode that wave brilliantly through the tournament, but Lanier had other ideas in the final.

How the Final Unfolded

Lanier set the tone immediately, racing to a 6-0 lead in the opening game. Loh, feeding off the crowd's energy, clawed back to level at 10-10 before eventually taking control, winning four of the final five points to seal the first game 21-17 and move within a set of a historic title.

The Frenchman responded with equal ferocity in the second. He stormed to a 7-1 lead and, despite Loh reeling off six straight points to close within one at 14-13, Lanier shut the door with six unanswered points, closing out the second game 21-15 to force a decider.

The third game was Lanier at his most clinical. For the third time in the match he opened with a 6-0 burst — but this time he never relinquished the advantage. Loh fought hard to spark another comeback, yet Lanier controlled the tempo and sealed the decider 21-14 to complete a remarkable turnaround.

Lanier's Growing Stature on the Tour

The Singapore Open title is the latest milestone in the rapid ascent of the young Frenchman. His ability to absorb pressure, reset mentally after losing the first game, and then dominate the final two sets with aggressive, precision-driven badminton underlined why he is increasingly regarded as one of the sport's brightest emerging talents. This is his second Super 750 crown, confirming that his earlier breakthrough was no fluke.

What It Means for Loh and Singapore

Loh's defeat extends Singapore's wait for a home men's singles champion to at least 63 years. The former world number one produced a valiant campaign and showed the quality that once took him to the top of the world rankings, but Lanier's clinical finishing proved the difference on the day. The result will sting, yet Loh's performance throughout the week reaffirmed his standing as a genuine contender on the Super 750 circuit.

With the 2025 BWF World Tour calendar deepening, all eyes will be on whether Lanier can sustain this form and whether Loh can convert his near-misses into a landmark title on home soil in the future.