Viktor Axelsen is ready for the quarter-finals of the China Masters after a 21-16, 21-11 victory over the Chinese. Weng Hong Yang from China.
The winner of the match between Ng Ka Long Angus and Alex Lanier awaits in the quarter-finals. They play later Thursday.
The second set in particular was superior from Axelsen, who found a foothold on the court in China and played variedly and with profit.
He did that against an opponent who has otherwise been playing well this autumn. In September, Weng Hongyang won the China Open Super 1000 tournament.
Chinese Weng also followed well at the start on Thursday and came in front 8-7, but from there Axelsen tightened the screws.
The Dane won the following three balls, and then the hole was made.
Weng still made a good figure, but Axelsen was in control, and ahead 20-16, the Dane secured the set at the first opportunity.
The second set was a different story. Axelsen quickly took a 3-0 lead and seemed significantly more superior than at the beginning of the match.
The timing was there in the strokes, and Axelsen played with far more energy.
Weng was without a chance, and at the end of the set the Dane’s lead was 11-3.
Despite four Chinese points in a row after the stay, Axelsen was in cruise control.
The Dane quickly got a handle on it again, and after the small Chinese upturn, Axelsen won four of the five subsequent points.
From there, the match was decided, and on the first match ball of the match, the Dane pressed Weng to send the shuttlecock into the net.
The China Masters has never had a Danish winner in men’s singles before.
This year there are more options. Both Anders Antonsen and Rasmus Gemke will also be in action later on Thursday.
All three Danes are in the same half of the tournament, so there are good chances for Danish participation in Sunday’s final.
