An Se-young struggles with knee injury

[Saba Sports News] In the semi-finals of the 2025 China Open, Chen Yu Fei faced An Se-young. During the match, Chen Yu Fei used a common loop-and-attack tactic, hitting the ball high and low, left and right, forcing An Se-young to run all over the court. This strategy is typically based on physical strength and technical skill. An Se-young, despite a right knee injury, fought bravely until the second set, leading 6-11, but had to withdraw from the match due to pain. Under the glaring lights of the mixed interview area, An Se-young gently lifted her knee pad, revealing a shocking bruise and swelling – the swollen area looked like a ping-pong ball had been forced into it. An Se-young is a typical “power player,” relying on smashes and powerful attacks for offense, and large-area movements for defense. However, this style of play puts immense strain on the knees. When she was younger, her knees could handle it, and opponents couldn’t outlast her stamina. But now that she’s 25, her career is entering the “wear and tear” phase, and old knee injuries are resurfacing. At this point, opponents change tactics, not trying to match her speed or power, but instead focusing on controlling the ball, looping and attacking from all four corners, looking for opportunities when she moves. Simply put, in competitive sports, the goal is to find the opponent’s weakness and take points with the least effort.