As usual, Christo Popov competed for more than an hour with Viktor Axelsen, one of the greatest bad players in history, whom he manhandled and pushed to his limits. But as usual, the Frenchman ended up giving in, in a cruel refrain that he is beginning to know too well (21-18, 16-21, 21-18).
Opposed to the double Danish Olympic champion in the quarter-finals of the Kumamoto Masters (Super 500), this Friday in Japan, Popov confirmed that he had regained his best feelings. He had the legs, the net game and the shots that hurt. But he did not have the strength to go for the last points of the third set, those which could have allowed him to beat Axelsen for the first time in seven matches.
He may have suffered a bit of tension and irritation, especially when he thought his opponent had played a shuttlecock that had just hit the ground. But he also came up against a solid Axelsen, capable of planting a full-line smash to lead 18-17 in money time. Trailing 11-8 at the last change of sides, the Dane was hot and he knew it: his long angry cry after the last point represented all his suffering in getting rid of this Frenchman who had the weapons to bring him down. But who still hasn’t gotten there.
Unprecedented opposition for the mixed semi-finals
Delphine Delrue and Thom Gicquel continue their journey in these Kumamoto Masters. The European mixed doubles champions (world no. 22) erased the Thai pair Sudjaipraparat/Oupthong (no. 31). A perfectly controlled first round, then a tighter second which they turned in their favor (21-14, 22-20). “A very good match, we remained solid”appreciated Delrue. In the semi-finals, they will face the Chinese Guo/Chen (world No. 17), a duo they have never played against before.
