Viktor Axelsen did not take long to dispatch the Japanese out of the Malaysia Masters on Wednesday morning Danish time
Good warm-up.
This is how Viktor Axelsen’s 1st round match at the Super 500 tournament Malaysia Masters can be called a bit rough.
Because it was not particularly tough opposition, Japanese Koki Watanabe dished out on Wednesday morning Danish time in Kuala Lumpur.
The world number one won 21-14, 21-11 in a match that lasted 39 minutes.
The top-seeded Dane just had to knock the rust out of his bones before he turned 0-2 and 2-4 to 8-5. And then it went fast.
Before the 25-year-old Japanese had looked around, he was behind 15-6, and then the race was almost over.
A corresponding Danish shoal in the 2nd set really decided the match, when Axelsen went from 7-6 to 14-6, and then the world number 20 could do no more.
The round of 16 on Thursday does not seem to be significantly more difficult for Axelsen, who will face the winner of a match between a Thai qualifier and Chi Ju-yen from Chinese Taipei, who is number 48 in the world.
Rasmus Gemke, on the other hand, had to capitulate against experienced Chou Tien-chen – also from Chinese Taipei, who defeated the Dane in two sets – 21-14, 21-17. It was the same 34-year-old Chou who recently defeated Viktor Axelsen in the Thomas Cup quarter-finals, which kick-started the Danish slump.
There is a large Danish delegation in Kuala Lumpur this week, and the streak of Danish players will all be in action on Wednesday in the 1st round.
2024-05-22 11:37:21
#Perfect #start #Axelsen #Ekstra #Bladet
