Chen Yufei of China hits a return to P.F. Sindhu of India during the quarterfinal match at the 2024 Badminton French Open in Paris on March 8, 2024. (PHOTO / XINHUA)

PARIS - China's Chen Yufei battled fiercely through three games but ultimately fell to Japan's Akane Yamaguchi 21-15, 18-21, 22-20, in a gripping women's singles semifinal at the 2024 Badminton French Open held on Saturday.

In the decisive game, the second-seed Chen managed to save two match points, trailing at 18-20, but couldn't sustain her scoring momentum. Yamaguchi seized the next two points to clinch the match.

Despite the slightly disappointing outcome, Chen emphasized the importance of using this competition as an opportunity to acclimate to the Olympic venue and to consolidate her experience promptly.

As the reigning Olympic champion in women's singles, Chen's performance in this tournament was less than ideal. Nonetheless, her comeback victory over India's P.V. Sindhu in the quarterfinals, followed by the hard-fought match against Yamaguchi, showed a gradual improvement in her form

"After these matches, I feel I've adjusted to the venue's lighting, the direction of the airflow, and even my mentality. However, it's crucial to reflect upon these experiences, or else it might be forgotten in half a year," the 26-year-old commented.

This tournament served as a test event for the Paris Olympic Games, taking place at the Porte de La Chapelle Arena. This venue, dedicated to badminton and rhythmic gymnastics at the upcoming Summer Olympics, is the only permanent facility constructed within the smaller Paris area specifically for the Games.

ALSO READ: China's Shi, Chen advance to badminton India Open final

As the reigning Olympic champion in women's singles, Chen's performance in this tournament was less than ideal. Nonetheless, her comeback victory over India's P.V. Sindhu in the quarterfinals, followed by the hard-fought match against Yamaguchi, showed a gradual improvement in her form.

"The first two matches didn't go as well as I hoped, so I approached today's game as a form of training. Despite the loss, I see it as an opportunity to further analyze and refine the details of my game," Chen stated.

Yamaguchi will face the top seed An Se-young from South Korea, in the final. The latter secured her spot by overcoming Tai Tzu-ying from Chinese Taipei in another semifinal match with scores of 21-12, 17-21, 22-20.

In a thrilling final game against Tai, the current world championship winner mounted an incredible comeback from a seven-point deficit at 18-11 before overturning four match points at 20-16 with a 6-0 run, showcasing a remarkable turnaround.

READ MORE: Chen, Marin advance to semis of BWF World Tour Finals

In the mixed doubles, fourth seeds Feng Yanzhe/Huang Dongping dispatched fellow Chinese pair and reigning champions Jiang Zhenbang/Wei Yaxin to set up the final against South Korea's Seo Seung-Jae/Chae Yu-Jung.