Sara Thygesen and Maiken Fruergaard are ending their partnership. Maiken Fruergaard will team up with Natasja Anthonisen as her new partner, while Sara Thygesen will explore the possibility of continuing with a new partner for a period of time.
The VICTOR Denmark Open 2024 will be the last tournament together for Sara Thygesen and Maiken Fruergaard.
After 12 years as a pair, the women's doubles duo is parting ways, having achieved six national titles, four European Championships bronze medals, and most recently, an Olympic quarterfinal this summer after defeating world-class pairs.
“It’s a long partnership that’s coming to an end, and in many ways, it feels like parting with a family member after knowing each other for so long. We’ve shared many experiences and have grown both personally and as players,” says Sara Thygesen.
She highlights the Indonesia Masters in 2020, where the pair reached the finals, as one of the career’s standout moments.
“That was one of those really memorable tournaments where everything came together perfectly. It kickstarted the playing style we developed over the last five years, culminating in the bright memory of the Olympics this summer. This partnership has meant a lot to me, and now I have to figure out what’s next. I’m still interested in continuing to play for a while, but I’ll see what opportunities arise,” Thygesen adds.
Maiken Fruergaard also reflects on their partnership fondly.
“Throughout my entire time with the national team, I’ve been partners with Sara, so it’s special that it’s coming to an end. We’ve had many ups and downs, fun matches, and achieved great results together. We handled things well and brought out the best in each other, so I’ve really enjoyed the partnership," she says.
The 29-year-old Fruergaard has decided to continue with Natasja Anthonisen, who is six years younger.
“It’s going to be a big change for me, having only played with Sara, but it’s a good challenge that I’m ready to give 100 percent to. She’s a bit younger than me, so I hope I can pass on some valuable experience to her, but I also believe we can learn new things from each other. It’ll be exciting to see what we can achieve,” says Fruergaard.
Jens Meibom, Director of Elite Sports at Badminton Denmark, also reflects on the 12-year-long partnership between Sara Thygesen and Maiken Fruergaard.
“We are deeply grateful for their contribution to Danish badminton over the years, especially their dedication to the national team, where they’ve been a key part of the squad for the past decade. They’ve shown they could compete with some of the world’s best pairs, and they ended on a high note with a fantastic Olympic performance, defeating top-tier opponents. We are very excited and optimistic about the new pairing of Maiken and Natasja, and we also hope to find a new partner for Sara during the period she wishes to continue playing,” says the Director of Elite Sports.
As for Natasja Anthonisen, she will now return to playing with a Danish partner after spending the past year paired with Dutch player Alyssa Tirtosentono.
Additionally, as of today, she has been officially admitted into Badminton Denmark’s elite program. Although she has been training at Brøndby Hallen for the past three years, she is grateful for the recognition of being formally accepted.
“It means a lot to receive this acknowledgment. It’s been my goal and a dream since I started training in Brøndby, and it feels great to have proof that I’m on the right path. I’m really looking forward to starting my partnership with Maiken, and hopefully, we can achieve great results together,” says Anthonisen.