A three-time world champion who has been out of the limelight for a while is setting her sights on a fourth world title.

Carolina Marin exuded ruthless dominance in her first match of the TotalEnergies BWF World Championships 2023, with her 21-10 21-6 result against Iris Wang an exhibition of controlled force. Wang, scrambler par excellence, tried everything in her power but Marin blew past into the third round, her shots from the deep homing in like guided missiles past her despairing opponent.

“I feel like she’s ready for the Worlds,” world No.37 Wang said, almost lost for words. “She felt very on. It was very hard to find gaps … I felt I got hit by a truck.”

Marin sounded an ominous warning to rivals as she said she felt ready for Sunday.

“Honestly, I want to play on Sunday, and I want to go as high as I can but we want to go step by step. I’m looking forward to playing tomorrow.

“I’m really close to my best level. I talked to my team last week and it’s the first time since my first injury that we didn’t make any change in our plan for this tournament, for the preparation. I’m really focured about this week, and as always I want to give my best. I wanted to show a great performance and I think I did today.”