Second victory at the Yonex Swiss Open: Carolina Marin, the shining light of badminton

It was a tight "box", this women's final at the Yonex Swiss Open 2024. The two top seeds Carolina Marin (30) and Gregoria Mariska Tunjung (24) chased each other around the court for almost an hour and a half until the Spaniard had the happier ending after three sets. Although – perhaps "lucky" is not the right word after all, however close the result may have been. Because it's a pattern that Carolina Marin shows time and again: When things get tight and nerves play a decisive role, she is ready and holds her nerve to decide the match in her favor.

This was also the case against Gregoria Mariska Tunjung, the former junior world champion, who impressed with her varied game and even had a match point. However, Marin fended this off in the manner of an escape artist in convincing style – and then put her opponent under pressure, who was overwhelmed and had to watch as the Olympic champion and multiple world champion closed out the match and won for the second time since 2021 in Basel. At the award ceremony, the otherwise focused Marin smiled at the victory sign and pocketed the prize money of CHF 20,000 as well as a valuable Victorinox watch.

This is the second time that the Golden Book of the Yonex Swiss Open has been adorned with an entry by the Spaniard, whose successes make her one of the most successful female badminton players of all time. Carolina Marin comes from Huelva on the Costa da Luz, which means "coast of light". This fits in with her performance over the past two weeks: at both the All England and the Yonex Swiss Open, she presented herself as the shining light of badminton.