Semi-finals spots up for grabs in Denmark Open

Sports Monday 21/October/2019 23:03 PM
By: Times News Service
Semi-finals spots up for grabs in Denmark Open

COPENHAGEN: The Denmark Open entered the fourth day on Friday as semi-final spots up for contention in all categories.

The evening matches were mainly about the men’s singles and the most anticipated of them was the all Danish men’s clash where a full house came to watch a resurgent Viktor Axelsen, ranked 7th, slug it out against fellow countryman and fourth ranked Anders Antonsen on the main court.

Midway through the first sight, Antonsen seemed taking slight advantage and to be pulling away until the 11th hour when Axelsen miraculously caught up and surged past Antonsen’s match point to win the first set 24-22.

After that Axelsen was a different player, full of flair and confidence, and took the second set 21-12 as if by right.

The victory continues Axelsen’s improvement in the tournament and takes him one match away from the final on Sunday.

Next came a highly partisan Danish crowd and Denmark’s Ramius Gemkte, ranked 22nd, versus the Japanese world number one Kento Momota.

Champions are those who can win when they do not play their best. Momota did not have the best game but he was the stronger player and won in three sets 21-14, 21-23, 21-13.

The last match of the evening was the men’s singles clash between Chen Long and Chinese Taipei player Chou Tienchen.

Chen playing in black looked menacing on the court as he removed his opponent out of the competition in two sets 21-17, 21-17. Chen Long would engage Viktor Axelsen in semi-finals on Saturday.

The women’s singles competition launched the day’s proceedings with 27-year-old Carolina Marin of Spain coming into her quarter-final after a tough 2nd round victory to face Se Young An.
Marin carved out yet another hard-earned victory 18-21, 21-19, 21-18.

“Body language is important on court. Don’t show your weaknesses to your opponent,” said a victorious Marin on Denmarks TV2 Sport.

In other women’s singles action, China’s seemingly unstoppable Chen Yufei took to the court with another ferocious display of attacking badminton.

The Chinese world number 3 utterly annihilated her 27-year-old Japanese opponent Sayaka Takahashi in two ferocious sets 21-9, 21-7 to book her place in the semi-finals

In the women’s doubles, China’s Chen Qingchen and Jia Yifan advanced to the semi-finals by defeating South Koreans Chang Yena and Kim Hye Rin in two sets 21-16, 21-11.

In the mixed doubles, Wang Yilyu and Huang Dongping booked their semi-final berth by deservedly beating He Jiting and Du Yue in straight sets 21-13, 21-13.