Denmark Open: Loh Kean Yew dashes home hero Viktor Axelsen’s hopes in quarter-final upset
- Singapore’s 2021 world champion sees off world No 1 in straight sets, setting up semi-final against Malaysia’s Lee Zii Jia
- ‘It’s a huge achievement to beat Viktor … this is my first Super 750 [tournament] semi, so I’m just enjoying it,’ Loh says
Viktor Axelsen’s homecoming hopes were dashed after he was defeated by his training partner Loh Kean Yew in the quarter-finals of the Denmark Open on Friday.
The 28-year-old Olympic champ was in seemingly unstoppable form, having topped the podium six times in 2022, with four tournament wins in a row including the World Championships in Tokyo.
World No 1 Axelsen got off to a flying start this week at the US$750,000 tournament in Odense, but his first real test came in the quarter-finals when he faced Loh.
Singapore’s 2021 world champion played with more intensity and eventually saw off the defending champion 21-17, 21-10.
“We just became parents a few weeks ago, so now I can spend time with my girls before I get ready for the French Open,” Axelsen said in a post-match interview.
“I did not expend too much energy this week, and I’m crossing my fingers I can do well in Paris at the French Open next week.”