Viktor Axelsen | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Country | Denmark | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Born | Odense, Denmark | 4 January 1994||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Residence | Valby, Denmark | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Height | 1.94 m (6 ft 4 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Years active | 2010–present | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Handedness | Right | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Men's singles | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Career record | 393 wins, 135 losses | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Highest ranking | 1 (28 September 2017) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Current ranking | 2 (4 May 2021) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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BWF profile |
Viktor Axelsen (born 4 January 1994) is a Danish badminton player. He is the 2017 World champion and the 2020 Olympic champion.[1] He won the 2010 World Junior Championships, beating Korea's Kang Ji-wook in the final to become the first ever European player to hold the title.[2] Axelsen was crowned European men's singles champion in 2016 and 2018.[3]
Axelsen achievements begin when he won the National junior event in the boys' singles and doubles in his age group in 2006 and 2008.[4] He later emerged victorious at the 2009 German Junior and also at the European U17 Championships.[5] He made his debut in the senior international tournament at the 2009 Denmark Open played in the men's doubles event with Steffen Rasmussen.[6]
In January 2010, Axelsen who played from the qualification round manage to reach the finals at the Swedish International tournament, and finished as the runner-up after lost to Indra Bagus Ade Chandra in straight games 15–21, 12–21.[7] He competed at the World Junior Championships in Guadalajara, Mexico, claimed the boys' singles title by defeating the No.1 seed, China's Huang Yuxiang in the quarterfinals, India's B. Sai Praneeth in the semis and Kang Ji-wook of Korea in the final.[5] In October, he claimed his first international senior title at the age of just sixteen, winning the Cyprus International.[8] A few weeks later he entered his first Super Series event in singles, the Denmark Open 2010; making it through the qualifying stages before losing out to compatriot and eventual winner Jan Ø. Jørgensen in the second round.[9]
In 2011, Axelsen secured gold at the European Junior Championships, defeating teammate Rasmus Fladberg 21–8, 17–21, 21–13 in the final.[10] He took a silver medal at the 2011 BWF World Junior Championships, lost the title to Malaysia's Zulfadli Zulkiffli, coming in second place.[11]
In early 2012, Axelsen moved to Valby, in Copenhagen, and started training at Brøndby elite center.[12] Axelsen finished runner-up at the French Open in Paris, losing in the final to Daren Liew 18–21, 17–21.[13] He also won a bronze medal at the 2012 European Championships losing the semi-final in three games to Sweden's Henri Hurskainen 21–18, 18–21, 17–21.[14]
In 2014, Axelsen has won his first Grand Prix title at the Swiss Open, beating China's Tian Houwei in the final 21–7, 16–21, 25–23.[15] Axelsen won a bronze medal at the 2014 BWF World Championships and also a bronze medal again at the 2014 European Badminton Championships.[16]
In 2015, Axelsen finished runners-up at the Swiss Open Grand Prix Gold, three Super Series events India Open, Australian Open, and Japan Open. He qualified to compete at the Super Series Finals held in Dubai, and again finished as the runner-up.[17] Axelsen featured in Denmark winning team at the European Mixed Team Championships in Leuven, Belgium.[18][19] At the Sudirman Cup, the team finished in the quarter finals lost 2–3 to Japanese team, where he played in the second matches.[20] He ended the 2015 season ranked as world number 6.
In 2016, Axelsen earned his first European crown in May 2016 beating compatriot and defending champion Jan Ø. Jørgensen with 21–11, 21–16 in the final of the 25th edition of the European Championships, the first in France at La Roche-sur-Yon. He was also part of the historic Danish team winning the first ever Thomas Cup title in 2016. Axelsen won five of his six played singles matches in the team tournament, also against Indonesia's experienced player Tommy Sugiarto in the final (21–17, 21–18) setting up a dramatic and historic 3–2 victory for Denmark over Indonesia. In the 2016 Rio Olympics, he won the bronze medal by beating Lin Dan from China 21–15, 12–21, 21–17.
In 2017, Axelsen won the World Championship in Glasgow in two sets against Lin Dan (22–20, 21–16) and became the third Danish player to ever become a world champion (Peter Rasmussen 1997 in Glasgow & Flemming Delfs 1977 in Sweden).[16] Axelsen, with a record of 4–3, is the only top twenty player to hold a winning record against Lin Dan, head-to-head.[21]
Axelsen followed up his victory in Glasgow by winning the finals of the Japan Open tournament in Tokyo over Lee Chong Wei of Malaysia in three sets on 23 September, propelling him to the top of the BWF World Rankings.[22]
In 2018, Axelsen participated in the European Men's and Women's Team Badminton Championships and got a gold after suffered from a foot injury. He represented Denmark in the 2018 Thomas & Uber Cup. In the group stage, he defeated Vladimir Malkov from Russia and from Algeria. In the group stage match against Lee Chong Wei, he lost by two straight games 9–21, 19–21. In the quarter finals match against South Korea, he defeated Son Wan-ho, but he lost to the favorite and former world no. 2, Kento Momota in semi finals. Denmark was then eliminated in semi finals but not the defending champion of 2016 Thomas & Uber Cup. In August, Axelsen was unable to defend his world title where he was defeated by two-time World Champion and reigning Olympic Champion Chen Long in the quarter finals.[23]
Axelsen started the season by competing in Indonesia Masters. He finished as the semi-finalists after lost to home player the seventh seed Anthony Sinisuka Ginting in two straight games.[24] In February, he managed to defend his title in Barcelona Spain Masters after beating the Thai youngster Kunlavut Vitidsarn in straight games 21–16, 21–13.[25] In March, he won the prestigious tournament All England Open, making history as the first European and Dane to lift the men's singles trophy since 1999.[26]
Axelsen participated at the European Mixed Team Championships in Finland, and helped the team win the gold medal.[27] In March, Axelsen entered the All England Open as the defending champion. He reached the final, but lost to 6th seed Lee Zii Jia of Malaysia in a grueling 3 set match.[28] He then took part at the Kyiv European Championships, advanced to the final, but the organizers decided to cancel the finals, since Axelsen tested positive for COVID-19. Consequently, he was barred from playing the final match with his compatriot Anders Antonsen and was awarded with a silver medal.[29] He won the gold medal in the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan, beating Chen Long in straight games in the final and without dropping a single game in the entire tournament.
Men's singles
Year | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|
2016 | Riocentro – Pavilion 4, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | Lin Dan | 15–21, 21–10, 21–17 | Bronze |
2020 | Musashino Forest Sports Plaza, Tokyo, Japan | Chen Long | 21–15, 21–12 | Gold |
Men's singles
Year | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|
2014 | Ballerup Super Arena, Copenhagen, Denmark | Lee Chong Wei | 9–21, 7–21 | Bronze |
2017 | Emirates Arena, Glasgow, Scotland | Lin Dan | 22–20, 21–16 | Gold |
Men's singles
Year | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|
2012 | Telenor Arena, Karlskrona, Sweden | Henri Hurskainen | 21–18, 18–21, 17–21 | Bronze |
2014 | Gymnastics Center, Kazan, Russia | Jan Ø. Jørgensen | 11–21, 13–21 | Bronze |
2016 | Vendéspace, La Roche-sur-Yon, France | Jan Ø. Jørgensen | 21–11, 21–16 | Gold |
2017 | Sydbank Arena, Kolding, Denmark | Anders Antonsen | 17–21, 16–21 | Bronze |
2018 | Palacio de Deportes, Huelva, Spain | Rajiv Ouseph | 21–8, 21–7 | Gold |
2021 | Palace of Sports, Kyiv, Ukraine | Anders Antonsen | Walkover | Silver |
Boys' singles
Year | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|
2010 | Domo del Code Jalisco, Guadalajara, Mexico | Kang Ji-Wook | 21–19, 21–10 | Gold |
2011 | Taoyuan Arena, Taoyuan City, Taipei, Chinese Taipei | Zulfadli Zulkiffli | 18–21, 21–9, 19–21 | Silver |
Boys' singles
Year | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|
2011 | Energia Areena, Vantaa, Finland | Rasmus Fladberg | 21–8, 17–21, 21–13 | Gold |
The BWF World Tour, which was announced on 19 March 2017 and implemented in 2018,[30] is a series of elite badminton tournaments sanctioned by the Badminton World Federation (BWF). The BWF World Tours are divided into levels of World Tour Finals, Super 1000, Super 750, Super 500, Super 300 (part of the HSBC World Tour), and the BWF Tour Super 100.[31]
Men's singles
Year | Tournament | Level | Opponent | Score | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2018 | Malaysia Masters | Super 500 | Kenta Nishimoto | 21–13, 21–23, 21–18 | Winner |
2018 | Indonesia Open | Super 1000 | Kento Momota | 14–21, 9–21 | Runner-up |
2019 | Spain Masters | Super 300 | Anders Antonsen | 21–14, 21–11 | Winner |
2019 | All England Open | Super 1000 | Kento Momota | 11–21, 21–15, 15–21 | Runner-up |
2019 | India Open | Super 500 | Srikanth Kidambi | 21–7, 22–20 | Winner |
2020 | Malaysia Masters | Super 500 | Kento Momota | 22–24, 11–21 | Runner-up |
2020 | Spain Masters | Super 300 | Kunlavut Vitidsarn | 21–16, 21–13 | Winner |
2020 | All England Open | Super 1000 | Chou Tien-chen | 21–13, 21–14 | Winner |
2020 (I) | Thailand Open | Super 1000 | Ng Ka Long | 21–14, 21–14 | Winner |
2020 (II) | Thailand Open | Super 1000 | Hans-Kristian Vittinghus | 21–11, 21–7 | Winner |
2020 | BWF World Tour Finals | World Tour Finals | Anders Antonsen | 16–21, 21–5, 17–21 | Runner-up |
2021 | Swiss Open | Super 300 | Kunlavut Vitidsarn | 21–16, 21–6 | Winner |
2021 | All England Open | Super 1000 | Lee Zii Jia | 29–30, 22–20, 9–21 | Runner-up |
The BWF Superseries, which was launched on 14 December 2006 and implemented in 2007,[32] is a series of elite badminton tournaments, sanctioned by the Badminton World Federation (BWF). BWF Superseries levels are Superseries and Superseries Premier. A season of Superseries consists of twelve tournaments around the world that have been introduced since 2011.[33] Successful players are invited to the Superseries Finals, which are held at the end of each year.
Men's singles
Year | Tournament | Opponent | Score | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|
2012 | French Open | Liew Daren | 18–21, 17–21 | Runner-up |
2015 | India Open | Srikanth Kidambi | 21–18, 13–21, 12–21 | Runner-up |
2015 | Australian Open | Chen Long | 12–21, 21–14, 18–21 | Runner-up |
2015 | Japan Open | Lin Dan | 19–21, 21–16, 19–21 | Runner-up |
2015 | Dubai World Superseries Finals | Kento Momota | 15–21, 12–21 | Runner-up |
2016 | India Open | Kento Momota | 15–21, 18–21 | Runner-up |
2016 | Dubai World Superseries Finals | Tian Houwei | 21–14, 6–21, 21–17 | Winner |
2017 | India Open | Chou Tien-chen | 21–13, 21–10 | Winner |
2017 | Japan Open | Lee Chong Wei | 21–14, 19–21, 21–14 | Winner |
2017 | China Open | Chen Long | 16–21, 21–14, 13–21 | Runner-up |
2017 | Dubai World Superseries Finals | Lee Chong Wei | 19–21, 21–19, 21–15 | Winner |
The BWF Grand Prix had two levels, the BWF Grand Prix and Grand Prix Gold. It was a series of badminton tournaments sanctioned by the Badminton World Federation (BWF) which was held from 2007 to 2017.
Men's singles
Year | Tournament | Opponent | Score | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|
2014 | Swiss Open | Tian Houwei | 21–7, 16–21, 25–23 | Winner |
2015 | Swiss Open | Srikanth Kidambi | 14–21, 24–22, 21–8 | Runner-up |
Men's singles
Year | Tournament | Opponent | Score | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|
2010 | Swedish International Stockholm | Indra Bagus Ade Chandra | 15–21, 12–21 | Runner-up |
2010 | Cyprus International | Simon Maunoury | 21–10, 21–11 | Winner |
2011 | Swedish International Stockholm | Pablo Abián | 19–21, 6–21 | Runner-up |
2011 | Spanish Open | Pablo Abián | 21–11, 7–21, 21–9 | Winner |
2013 | Dutch International | Eric Pang | 24–22, 21–12 | Winner |
2013 | Denmark International | Ville Lång | 21–17, 21–8 | Winner |
In addition to his native Danish, Axelsen is also a fluent speaker of English and Mandarin.[34] Axelsen's fluency in Mandarin was especially noted when he was seen holding a conversation with Chen Long after their match in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. This has gained him more recognition and respect among the Chinese, as Mandarin is a difficult language to master. Axelsen also has his webshop called Viktor Axelsen Collection.[35]
Axelsen's girlfriend, Natalia Koch Rohde, gave birth to a baby girl named Vega Rohde Axelsen on 15 October 2020.[36][37]
W | F | SF | QF | #R | RR | Q# | A | G | S | B | NH | N/A |
Events | 2010 | 2011 |
---|---|---|
European Junior Championships | NH | B |
World Junior Championships | 6th | A |
Team Events | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
European Men's Team Championships | G | NH | G | NH | G | NH | G | NH | G | NH |
European Mixed Team Championships | NH | S | NH | G | NH | G | NH | G | NH | G |
Thomas Cup | B | NH | QF | NH | G | NH | B | NH | Q | NH |
Sudirman Cup | NH | B | NH | QF | NH | QF | NH | QF | NH |
Events | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 |
---|---|---|---|
European Junior Championships | NH | G | NH |
World Junior Championships | G | S | QF |
Events | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
European Championships | B | NH | B | NH | G | B | G | NH | S | |
World Championships | NH | 2R | B | QF | NH | G | QF | A | NH | |
Olympic Games | DNQ | NH | B | NH | G | NH |
Tournament | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | Best | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
BWF Superseries / Grand Prix | BWF World Tour | ||||||||||||||
Swiss Open | A | 2R | QF | 2R | W | F | A | w/d | NH | W | W {'14, '21) | ||||
German Open | A | 2R | 2R | QF | A | 1R | A | NH | QF ('14) | ||||||
All England Open | A | 1R | 1R | 1R | QF | QF | QF | w/d | F | W | F | W ('20) | |||
Malaysia Masters | A | W | SF | F | W ('18) | ||||||||||
Australian Open | A | 1R | F | w/d | w/d | A | NH | F ('15) | |||||||
India Open | A | QF | F | F | W | w/d | W | NH | W ('17, '19) | ||||||
Spain Masters | NH | A | W | W | A | W ('19, '20) | |||||||||
Malaysia Open | A | 1R | 1R | 1R | 1R | QF | 2R | QF | QF | NH | Q | QF ('16, '18, '19) | |||
Singapore Open | A | QF | SF | A | 1R | 2R | 2R | 1R | A | SF | NH | Q | SF ('12, '19) | ||
Indonesia Masters | A | NH | 2R | SF | SF | SF ('19, '20) | |||||||||
Indonesia Open | A | 1R | 1R | 2R | 1R | 1R | 1R | F | w/d | NH | F ('18) | ||||
Thailand Open | A | NH | 1R | A | NH | A | W | NH | W ('20 I, '20 II) | ||||||
W | |||||||||||||||
Korea Open | A | 2R | 1R | 1R | w/d | w/d | 2R | 2R | NH | 2R ('13, '18, '19) | |||||
Taipei Open | A | QF | A | NH | QF ('13) | ||||||||||
China Open | A | Q1 | A | 1R | 2R | QF | SF | F | 2R | 1R | NH | F ('17) | |||
Japan Open | A | 1R | 2R | A | 1R | F | QF | W | SF | w/d | NH | W ('17) | |||
Syed Modi International | A | NH | A | SF | A | NH | SF ('15) | ||||||||
Dutch Open | A | QF | A | NH | QF ('10) | ||||||||||
Denmark Open | Q1 (MD) | 2R | QF | 1R | 2R | 1R | SF | 2R | QF | 2R | SF | A | SF ('15, '19) | ||
French Open | A | 1R | A | F | 1R | QF | 2R | 2R | w/d | w/d | SF | NH | F ('12) | ||
SaarLorLux Open | A | 1R | A | w/d | A | 1R ('10) | |||||||||
Fuzhou China Open | A | 1R | 1R | A | w/d | QF | NH | QF ('19) | |||||||
Hong Kong Open | A | 2R | 2R | 2R | QF | 1R | A | w/d | A | QF | NH | QF ('14, '19) | |||
London Grand Prix Gold | NH | SF | NH | SF ('13) | |||||||||||
Superseries / Tour Finals | DNQ | F | W | W | DNQ | RR | F | W ('16, '17) | |||||||
Year-end ranking | 66 | 35 | 27 | 23 | 12 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 1 | |||
Tournament | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | Best |
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Record against year-end Finals finalists, World Championships semi finalists, and Olympic quarter finalists. Accurate as of 2 August 2021.[38]
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