After a surprising second-round loss at the YONEX All England against Ng Tze Yong (Malaysia), many badminton fans get to the same resume: Viktor Axelsen is human again.
It is due to his outstanding achievements in the recent time that a second-round loss at the most prestigious badminton tournament is the story of the day. Viktor Axelsen, who has only lost three matches in 2022, took his second defeat of 2023 against Ng Tze Yong from Malaysia 15-21, 21-9, 21-23. He also lost to Kunlavut Vitidsarn in the final of the India Open in January.
After losing the first game, what is not too unusual recently, Axelsen took over in the second, also not unusual, and left his opponent no chance winning 21-9. In the third game, the Dane did struggle again but started a great comeback from being down 15-19 to leading 20-19 as well as 21-20. But this time he did not convert his matchpoints and lost 21-23.
"This one hurts. There is a winner and there is a loser and today Ng Tze Yong deserved the win and unfortunately for me it wasn't enough", stated a visibly disappointed Axelsen.
Antonsen, Marin and Tabeling/Piek into the quarterfinals
The only European victories of the day were taken by Anders Antonsen, Carolina Marin and from Robin Tabeling/Selena Piek. "We haven't dropped a game this week. After a shaky start yesterday in the first game, we got into our match rhythm and I don't think we went out of that so far", said Robin Tabeling after beating Sumanti/Julimarbela (Indonesia) 21-18, 21-10.
Anders Antonsen today got his revenge against Lakshya Sen from India. The Dane lost to his good friend last year at the All England and today won with a dominant performance 21-13, 21-15.
Find all results from the round of 16 at the YONEX All England
here.