Players

Featured Players 4

European rising star
Viktor AXELSEN aiming for the world's best

It is not just women's doubles that symbolizes the strength of Denmark at the moment. Men's singles team also has it's shining star.
--- Viktor AXELSEN, 23 years old

Since the retirement of Peter Gade who won the JAPAN OPEN twice in 1998 and 1999, Denmark was missing new star for a long time. Viktor AXELSEN is a long-awaited skillful and bright singles player.

For this young star, 2016 became the best year of his life. In May, a history was made by winning the Thomas Cup and leading Denmark to its first victory. He then won the Bronze medal at the Rio Olympics in August and brought the men's singles medal for the first time in 21 years to his home country since Poul-Erik Hoyer Larsen's gold medal in 1996.

End of the year was favorable as well. Victor won his first title in finals of prestigious World Superseries. Especially in the battle for the best 4, in the third game AXELSEN defeated the Malaysian LEE Chong Wei for the first time after 9 losses. Here is his message after that game.
"Although I went on to the Superseries finals many times so far, but winning the championship brings me such a big happiness! It was rather unrefined game but I was able to withstand the pressure."

By the way, the Rio Olympics game over the Bronze medal was against Lin Dan, two-time Olympic champion (Beijing Olympics and London Olympics).
In other words, AXELSEN has dismissed the Big 2 who have been pulling the badminton world for the past 10 years. Probably it would have been only Chinese Chen Long, the Rio Olympics Gold medalist, who could do such a thing before.
However, in 2016, AXELSEN reached the new heights by defeating tough players, putting him to a new path of the legendary player himself.

Smashes from 194 cm height and net play techniques.

So what is the secret of AXELSEN, who made such a leap in 2016? It is undoubtedly his smashes and net play tactics.
Besides sharp shots from his 194 cm height, his skillful net play technique is also a strength which brings more opportunities. Reaching the net side just by putting his upper body forward, it is a tough situation for his opponents.
AXELSEN play style was resembling a fierce demon at the time he won the World Junior Championships in 2010 and attracted the attention of the world, but now he has learned to control his overwhelming explosive power. That is also one of the reasons for such a leap.

His highest score in Japan is the second place in 2015. However, Viktor AXELSEN has secured such position displaying his capability to win YONEX Open Japan any time.
Seeing him play during this tournament is truly an opportunity to witness AXELSEN transformation into a star player.

Check profiles and rackets used by players here.
http://www.yonex.co.jp/badminton/players/post-5.html
FACEBOOK
https://www.facebook.com/viktor.axelsen/