Bangkok: Viktor Axelsen of Denmark has been in hot form since the BWF World Tour restarted on Jan 12, 2021, with the YONEX Thailand Open. By winning two consecutive Super 1000 titles, Axelsen proved too tough a challenge for the Indonesian shuttler Anthony Sinisuka Ginting in their 2020 BWF World Tour Finals first Group A match on Wednesday.
Axelsen defeated the 24-year-old Ginting 21-17, 21-8 in 39 minutes to move to 1-0 in Group A action. The Dane only needed one hour and 18 minutes to make a good start, where he was pursuing his third season finale title. Axelsen made the final of 2015, 2016, 2017 Dubai World Superseries Finals, he lost to Kento Momota in 2015, but defeated Tian Houwei in 2016 and Lee Chong Wei in 2017. The World No. 4 Dane will play World No. 10 Lee Zii Jia of Malaysia next.
In women’s singles, top-seeded Carolina Marin cruised past Evgeniya Kosetskaya of Russia 21-19, 21-14 to set up a second Group A match with Michelle Li of Canada.
Meanwhile, the second-seeded Tai Tzu Ying of Chinese Taipei fended off the resilient PV Sindhu of India in three games 19-21, 21-12, 21-17 to play Pornpawee Chochuwong of Thailand.
Chochuwong on the other hand, stunned compatriot No. 3 seed Ratchanok Intanon with a 15-21, 21-11, 21-18 win in 62 minutes.
