The semifinals of the 2025 WTT Star Challenge in Ljubljana for women's singles have been determined, featuring a showdown between Japan and China.

On June 21, during the quarterfinals of the 2025 WTT Star Challenge in Ljubljana, Japanese players Kihara Miyu and Nagasaki Miu both defeated Chinese competitors to advance to the semifinals. Meanwhile, Zhang Benmei and Ota Sayaka were eliminated, finishing in the top eight of the women's singles.

Left: Nagasaki Miu, Right: Kihara Miyu

In this tournament, Kihara Miyu, who is in excellent form, defeated Chinese player Wang Xiaotong in the second round and faced her struggling teammate Hayata Hina in the third round, winning decisively in straight sets to advance. Kihara did not stop in the quarterfinals either, as she maintained control against former World Youth Championships women's singles champion, Chinese player Shi Xunyao, winning 3-1.

Additionally, Nagasaki Miu has also reached the semifinals by defeating Chinese players consecutively. In the third round, she overcame Han Fei'er, and in the quarterfinals, she used her sharp forehand and backhand to defeat He Zhuojia, who excels at the pips-out style of play.

Nagasaki Miu

On the other hand, top seed Zhang Benmei faced off against Chen Yi, reaching the deciding game but ultimately being eliminated by the young Chinese player. Ota Sayaka also failed to break through the solid defense of former world number one from Macau, Zhu Yuling, missing the chance to advance to the top four.

As a result, the matchup for the women's singles semifinals at the 2025 WTT Star Challenge in Ljubljana features Nagasaki Miu vs. Chen Yi and Kihara Miyu vs. Zhu Yuling in a Japan-China face-off.

Chen Yi defeated Zhang Benmei 3-2, becoming the only Chinese player to advance to the women's singles semifinals in this event.

<Quarterfinals of the 2025 WTT Star Challenge in Ljubljana Women's Singles>

Kihara Miyu 3-1 Shi Xunyao (China)

11-7/7-11/11-6/11-7

Nagasaki Miu 3-1 He Zhuojia (China)

11-3/6-11/11-6/11-7

Zhang Benmei 2-3 Chen Yi (China)

11-8/7-11/7-11/11-5/8-11

Ota Sayaka 2-3 Zhu Yuling (Macau, China)

11-5/9-11/3-11/13-11/8-11