New Delhi: One week after winning the 2023 Malaysia Open, World No. 1 Viktor Axelsen is now again preparing for his second title of the year after beating World No. 4 Jonatan Christie 21-6, 21-12 in just 38 minutes on Saturday.
Axelsen who is currently the best men’s singles player in the world will play World No. 8 Kunlavut Vitidsarn in the final. The 21-year-old Vitidsarn squandered 6 game points in the first set before finally converting in the 7 game-point by edging past World No. 3 Anthony Sinisuka Ginting 27-25. Vitidsarn then came back from 8-13 down to take the second game 21-15.
Sunday’s final will be the 7th head-to-head meeting between Axelsen and Vitidsarn. Axelsen held a 6-0 one-sided record against Vitidsarn. But as Vitidsarn is getting more mature and improving on his shots, he could potentially be the World’s top 3 players and could slowly pose a serious threat to Axelsen.
In the men’s doubles semi-finals, Malaysia’s reigning World Champions – Aaron Chia/Soh Wooi Yik lost the first game 11-21 to last week’s Malaysia Open champions Fajar Alfian/Muhamad Rian Ardianto before bouncing back sensationally to win the second set 21-15 and sealing a 21-16 victory in the third set to advance to their first final of the season.
Chia/Soh will meet last week’s Malaysia Open runners-up Liang Wei Keng/Wang Chang of China for the title fight. Liang/Wang’s strong form has seen them rise into one of the top men’s pairs in the world. They outlasted Kang Min Hyuk/Seo Seung Jae 21-18, 21-19 in 40 minutes in the semi-finals.
In addition to Liang/Wang, China also has representatives in the final of two other events. Wang Yi Lyu/Huang Dong Ping will play Yuta Watanabe/Arisa Higashino in the mixed doubles final while Chen Qing Chen/Jia Yi Fan to face Nami Matsuyama/Chiharu Shida in the women’s doubles final.
The women’s singles final will see a rematch of last week’s Malaysia Open final when Akane Yamaguchi and An Se Young will take on each other again in their second consecutive final in two weeks.
