Axelsen looked out of sorts today as nothing appeared to go right. That being said Antonsen played almost his perfect match and got off to the perfect start winning the opening set 21-17. The jam packed Sydbank Arena was fully expecting an Axelsen to bounce back after all he was the hot favourite for the title. 

However, a misfiring Axelsen and a well playing Antonsen construed to tip the balance in favour of the 20 year old Dane. Once Antonsen got to match point he took his chance at first time of asking to win 21-16 and put himself in the European final. 

“I visualised this moment the last 24 hours. It is a really difficult task to beat Viktor and I took my chances today.” Said Antonsen after his victory. 

Antonsen will now face Rajiv Ouseph in tomorrow’s final after the Englishman pulled off the biggest comeback of the day to beat Hans Kristian Solberg Vittinghus. The Dane managed to let an 18-12 lead in the second set slip after winning the opening game. Ouseph sensed blood and went on to take the deciding set to book his final spot. 

“Myself and HK have had so many three set battles over the years. When 1 game down and well down in the second I just thought I would give everything I got as I honestly thought I had lost it” 

In the women’s singles Carolina Marin came through a bruising two games with Mette Poulsen to book her expected final berth and he opponent will be Scotland’s Kirsty Gilmour as the Scot looks almost back to her best after a long layoff after the Rio Olympics. 

“It’s good to be back somewhere near classic Gilmour level and to be in another European final after my injury is a big thing. I have tasted silver before however so I really would love to win but we all know that is a big challenge against Carolina. 

To watch full Marin, Ouseph and Antonsen interviews click HERE

Pedersen record on the cards

Christinna Pedersen as very much expected reach both the women’s doubles and mixed doubles finals today after semi final victories alongside Fischer and Rytter Juhl. The Dane is set to write herself into the annals of European badminton history if she can win both tomorrow to claim 4 in a row in women’s doubles and a hat trick in mixed. 

Today’s mixed victims were the Irish Magee’s whose Euro journey came to an end with a bronze medal. The Danes were just too good and will play the Adcocks for the title tomorrow. 

In the women’s doubles Pedersen and Juhl hardly shifted out of 1st gear against Russia’s Morozova and Chervykova to win 21-10 21-13. The Danes will now face their biggest European threat to date from the Stoeva sisters who were equally impressive in their win over Smith and Walker of England. 

“We had a tough start to this Europeans with some close matches” said the Stoeva’s after their win. “But today we feel much more relaxed after getting the bronze and we feel we have been getting better as the week has gone on.” 

As expected the men’s doubles final will be all Danish with top seeds Boe & Mogensen set to face off against defending champions Conrad and Kolding. The number 1 seeded Danes were never troubled against fourth ranked Danes Daugaard and Christiansen while Conrad and Kolding came through a tough battle against Astrup and Skaarup Rasmussen in the second semi final in what was a repeat of last year’s finals.

For all results from today’s semi finals click HERE

For a photo gallery from today’s play click HERE