COPENHAGEN MASTERS 2014 – Viktor victorious

Viktor Axelsen scooped his first Copenhagen Masters title on Saturday after a convincing win over Lee Hyun Il of Korea. The young Dane helped his home country to make a clean sweep in the event as the other two finals were all-Danish affairs in which, logically, Boe/Mogensen and Fischer-Nielsen/Pedersen came out on top.

By Raphael Sachetat, live from Copenhagen. Photos: Badmintonphoto (live)

The roll of honour could have impressed him. Peter Gade, many times, and more recently, Jan O Jorgensen had been the former winners of the prestigious event, which had always smiled on Danish men’s singles stars.  Only Wong Choong Hann managed to win once in the past 15 years.

But no, Viktor Axelsen had nothing to lose and came on court very confident, while his opponent of the day seemed as relaxed as ever. But this time, his opponent was not to throw points away in the net and outside the lines.  Axelsen had his strategy in mind kept it from start to finish. Never once did he seem in danger, even when Hyun Il tried taking control at the net.  The tall blond kept it together by putting a lot of variation into his game.

In front of a packed house – not a seat left – Axelsen kept hammering his attacks down the lines and wrong-footed the Korean on numerous occasions and ended up as the winner of the final, falling on his knees after his 21-13, 21-16 success.

“I’m really thrilled I have won here in front of my home supporters.  It was good to have the support throughout the match. I managed to keep control and I was able to deliver as I expected. Now, this is the perfect way to end the year and it will help me to stay sharp for the year to come,” said Axelsen.

At 19, he becomes the youngest ever player to win the men’s singles crown.  Gade was 21 when he first won the event which was held at the time near Tivoli Gardens.

Pedersen wins mixed event rewarded in women’s doubles

In the mixed doubles, Christinna Pedersen and Joachim Fischer-Nielsen could have made it a much faster victory – when they were 19-15 up in the second game after securing the first game 21-18 – but some easy mistakes and constant pressure from their friends and opponents of the day, Kamilla Rytter Juhl and Mads Pieler Kolding, turned the tables around and the latter scooped the second game 21-19. Fischer turned the speed up in the last game, while Pedersen delivered sharp serves but it was once again a tough battle, finally won 21-18 by the favourites, Fischer and Pedersen.

Christinna could celebrate with a big smile as she had been awarded the Player of the Year for 2013 by Badminton Denmark, together with her partner Kamilla Rytter Juhl,to end the year on a perfect note.  Pedersen is also the top European in tournament winnings in all categories for the year 2013. Badzine will release the list of the top 50 in total 2013 prize winnings shortly.

Matthias Boe and Carsten Mogensen had started the afternoon with a win over their younger compatriots in an easy manner, 21-8, 21-14, showing they remain above the rest of Danish pairs for the moment.

All results HERE