Two weeks from now and the 2018 European Championships will be in action in Huelva, Spain. The draws for the men’s singles and women’s singles have been published at 12 PM today on April 10th. Badminton Europe spoke to Viktor Axelsen about his expectations as the top seed coming back from his injury.
Axelsen won the European title back in 2016 and the Dane will travel to Huelva hoping to live up to his seeding. The reigning world champion can anticipate to be up against compatriot Rasmus Gemke in the quarter-final, and either Brice Leverdez of France and Pablo Abian of Spain are seeded for the semi-final in Axelsen’s half of the draw.
- There are more and more players in Europe that are doing really well. Brice and Anders have had good results, Jan is coming back and Rasmus Gemke is also doing well. I am really looking forward to being a part of it, if my body allows it, Axelsen explains about the men’s singles draw.
- When I play a European championship, I expect to do well, I mean, I am top seeded and I hope that I can live up to that seeding if all goes well, and my body wants what I want when I get on court.
Coming back from a surgery
Axelsen has been off court after a surgery in his ankle and his plan is that the 2018 European Championships will be his first tournament back.
- I have to be realistic and therefore I cannot expect to go on court and play completely without flaws like I did before my injury. It would be nice if it happened, but it is not something I can expect.
- I have to take one match at the time and first and foremost focus on getting my body back in high spirit.
Marin in favor on home court
The women’s singles draw has also been published and the Spanish favourite Carolina Marin can anticipate Danish opponents of Natalia Koch Rohde and Mia Blichfeldt in respectively the quarter-final and the semi-final.
The other Spanish women’s singles, 5th seed Beatriz Corrales can fight to become Kirsty Gilmour’s opponent in the semi-final of the draw’s bottom half.
Men’s singles wild card Jan Ø. Jørgensen will be in the bottom half of the draw, where he can be up against runner-up from last year Anders Antonsen in the quarter-final, if he gets past 6th seed Mark Caljouw of the Netherlands in the 3rd round.