SWEDISH INT’L SF – Danish Wonder Thrills the Crowd.

By
Mark Phelan
– January 23, 2010Posted in: news
Viktor Axelsen (pictured), the 16-year-old wonder kid from Odense, Denmark, continued his unending march to the final of the Swedish International with another 2-set victory in today’s semi-final. Article and […]

sw10_semi-axelsen2Viktor Axelsen (pictured), the 16-year-old wonder kid from Odense, Denmark, continued his unending march to the final of the Swedish International with another 2-set victory in today’s semi-final.
Article and Images by Mark Phelan (Live in Stockholm)

The young Dane entered the arena to a serenade of dance music which is befitting of his generation and it was clear from the start that he was enjoying the occasion in front of the large Swedish crowd. His opponent on this occasion was world number 43 Matthieu Lo Ying Ping from France.

The opening set was close as both players gave an exhibition of energetic badminton to the appreciative crowd. On one occasion both players joked with each other over a line call as both players visual appeared to be enjoying themselves on court. It was the Dane, with his never-ending array of shot making, who took the opening set as he left Lo Ying Ping staring at the stars in a vain attempt to find answers.
sw10_semi-kouriThe second set went the way of Axelsen from the outset as he just steamrolled the Frenchman and never allowed him get a foothold on the set. In the end it became almost an exhibition from the Dane as he showed maturity way beyond his years to take the second set 21-9 to advance to tomorrow’s finals.
“I really had fun on court today. I had a plan set with my coach and I followed it and Im so happy to be in my first major International final. Tomorrow is just another game and I hope I can now win and cap off a memorable week for me,” said a very happy Axelsen after his win.
In the second semi-final Indonesian Indra Bagus Ade Chandra came back from a set down to beat Petr Koukal of Czech Republic. Koukal, who had already seen off the challenge of number 1 seed Hans Kristian Vittinghus of Denmark in the quarter final appeared to have everything well under control after a first set win to 14 but a combination of the Indonesian finding another gear and Koukals touch deserting him saw Chandra advance with a 3-set win.
The women’s singles will be without any Scandinavian involvement in the final as both Elizabeth Cann from England and Japan’s Kaori Imabeppu (pictured) kept their title hopes alive with 2 set wins over Rong Bo and Rachel Van Cutsen respectively.

In the men’s doubles, the English duo of Middleton and Langridge prevented an all Denmark final as they beat the inform pair on the EBU tour Kolding and Conrad. On the adjoining court Skovgaard and Elbjorn advanced in two over Welsh pair Hughes and Lewis.

sw10_semi-nielsenropkeThe final games on court this evening saw Helle Nielsen and Marie Ropke (pictured) justify their number one seeding as they beat Dutch pair Barning and Muskens in a tough 3 sets. Their opponents in Sunday’s final will be the vastly experienced Dutch duo of Van Dooremalen and Jonathans after they ended the hopes of firstly Swedish pair Wengberg and Lennartsson in the quarters followed by a 2 set victory over Bankier and Mason at semi final stage.

Swedish interest ended at semi-finals stage as Emelie Lennartsson along with her German partner Tim Dettmann were beaten in straight sets by Mads Pieler Kolding and Britta Andersen as the Danes booked their place in the mixed final against number 3 seeds Atrashchenkov and Prus from the Ukraine.

For all results click HERE

Tags:

About Mark Phelan