Mülheim: Denmark’s Viktor Axelsen booked his place in the German Open final.
Axelsen Edges Past Popov in a Grueling Semifinal
Denmark’s Viktor Axelsen is one step closer to another badminton title, after battling through a three-game thriller against France’s Toma Junior Popov in the German Open semifinals on Saturday afternoon.
🔹 Match Score: Axelsen 2-1 Popov
First Set: 21-19
Second Set: 17-21
Third Set: 21-17
The 1-hour, 15-minute marathon match tested Axelsen, as Popov pushed him to the limit with his aggressive and tactical play.
📹 Watch the Highlights:
Final Showdown: Axelsen vs. Loh Kean Yew
Axelsen will now face former World No. 1 and close friend Loh Kean Yew in the final, setting up an exciting Denmark vs. Singapore battle for the German Open title.
While the German Open is a Super 300 event, it remains a crucial preparation tournament ahead of the All England Open, which kicks off on March 11.
Match Recap: Axelsen vs. Popov
Popov’s solid defense and aggressive play kept the first set tight. However, Axelsen held his nerve, sealing the set 21-19 after a net error and a deceptive drop shot from Popov.
During the break, Axelsen took off his shoe to treat a blister on his big toe, though it did not appear to affect his movement.
In the second set, Popov dominated early, racing to an 11-5 lead as Axelsen struggled to finish rallies. The Danish star showed signs of frustration and failed to recover, allowing Popov to level the match.
Axelsen came out strong in the deciding set, quickly moving to a 9-5 lead. But Popov refused to back down, winning four consecutive points to even the game.
The turning point came at 14-12, when Axelsen successfully challenged a close line call, shifting momentum in his favor. From there, he pulled away to secure his spot in the final.
Popov Brothers Reach Men’s Doubles Final
Despite Toma Junior Popov’s singles disappointment, he and his brother Christo Popov made up for it by reaching the men’s doubles final. The French pair edged out Japan’s Takumi Nomura/Yuichi Shimogami 21-13, 22-20 to book their place in Sunday’s championship match against Korea’s Kim Won Ho/Seo Seung Jae.
Denmark in the Mixed Doubles Final
Denmark will also be represented in the mixed doubles final, as Alexandra Bøje and her Dutch partner Robin Tabeling defeated Denmark’s Rasmus Espersen and Amalie Kudsk in a three-game battle 21-19, 19-21, 21-16.
🔹 Final Matchup:
🏸 Robin Tabeling/Alexandra Bøje (Denmark/Netherlands) vs. Rehan Naufal Kusharjanto/Gloria Emanuelle Widjaja (Indonesia)
Blichfeldt Falls Short in Women’s Singles
Denmark’s Mia Blichfeldt was eliminated in the women’s singles semifinals, losing a close match to Singapore’s Yeo Jia Min 19-21, 20-22.
Yeo will now face Vietnam’s Nguyen Thuy Linh in the final.
Women’s Doubles Final Set
In the women’s doubles final, Bulgaria’s Gabriela Stoeva/Stefani Stoeva will go up against Japan’s Mizuki Otake/Miyu Takahashi.
What’s Next?
With Axelsen aiming for another title and Danish representation in mixed doubles, Sunday’s German Open finals promise an action-packed badminton showdown.
Stay tuned for more badminton news and updates from the German Open! 🏸🔥
