The YONEX Italian International took place from 13-16 December in Milan, where Danish and Russian players dominated the tournament.
The category of Singles was a Danish affair. In the Men's Singles final, number-four-seeded, Victor Svendsen from Denmark, faced Thomas Rouxel from France, who was seeded number five. The result: The Dane won with 21-12, 21-17.
The Danish player made a great ending to his badminton year. After participating in four challenge finals in a row, this was his first victory.
- The fourth time is a charm, he stated on Instagram.
Danish victories in Singles
In the Women's Singles, Denmark also won the title. Julie Dawall Jakobsen, seeded number four, brought another gold medal home, after beating Yvonne Li from Germany. Jakobsen won both sets with 21-17 and got her first challenge title in Italy.
- Nice way to end 2018, she said on Instagram.
The category of the Men's Doubles, was also dominated by Denmark. The number five seeds, Mathias Bay-Smidt and Lasse Mølhede, had an easy morning against the Russians, Vitalij Durkin and Nikolai Ukk, without loosing a game in the whole tournament.
Davletova: two times on top of the podium
In the Women's Doubles, the number-one-seeds, Ekaterina Bolotova and Alina Davletova from Russia, managed to get the better of the Danish pair, Julie Finne Ipsen and Mai Surrow, winning with 21-13 in the deciding game.
Therefore, the Mixed Doubles was a Russian affair. In the finals, Rodion Alimov and Alina Davletova from Russia faced their compatriots, Evgenij Dremin and Evgenia Dimova, winning with 21-13, 21-16 in the end.
The last European tournament in 2018 gets underway in Ankara this week: The Turkey International.