Axelsen beats Srikanth -World No.1 Viktor Axelsen to play Lakshya Sen: World No.1 Victor Axelsen has defeated Kidambi Srikanth in straight sets to set clash against India’s Lakshya Sen in semifinals. Axelsen came all guns blazing against Srikanth in the opening set to win 21-10. The latter produced a stellar fightback in the second set with the scoreline at 21-19 at one point but Axelsen held the nerves to win the thriller. Follow German Open Badminton LIVE updates with InsideSport.IN
It was the Indian’s sixth defeat on the trot to Axelsen, whom he had beaten thrice in the past, including en route to his 2017 Denmark Open title in Odense.
Srikanth, who was playing his first event since recovering from Covid-19 that forced him out of the India Open, looked clueless against Axelsen in the initial moments of the match as the Dane galloped to a 17-4 lead.
Srikanth reeled off four points on the trot, before reaching double figures with two more points but it was not enough to stop a marauding Axelsen to pocket the opening game.
Srikanth produced a better display after the change of sides, opening up a 3-0 lead but in a jiffy it was 4-4.
The duo continued to fight it out, moving to 12-12. Srikanth then grabbed a three-point advantage only to squander it as Axelsen nosed ahead at the final moment
In other Quarterfinal battles, India’s Lakshya Sen beat HS Prannoy for a place in Semifinals. The 20-year-old Sen, who had claimed his maiden Super 500 title at the India Open in January, saw off former top 10 player Prannoy 21-15, 21-16 in 39 minutes.
Axelsen beats Srikanth: World No.1 Viktor Axelsen beats Kidambi Srikanth, to face Lakshya Sen in SEMIFINALS: Follow German Open Badminton LIVE updates
Game 1: Victor Axelsen beats Kidambi Srikanth 21-10 in the opening set, steps closer to the semifinal spot.
Game 2: Victor Axelsen beats Srikanth 23-21 in the second set to win the game.
- Denmark’s Viktor Axelsen had earlier defeated Toma Junior Popov of France 21-17, 21-10 to enter the German Open Quarterfinals. He had also thrashed Max Weisskirchen of Germany 21-11, 21-14 in previous fixtures.
- The top-ranked badminton star will be keen to win yet another title after the 2021 Indonesia Open.
India Results in German Open Badminton – Thursday LAST 16 Matches
- PV Sindhu lost to Zhang Yi Man (China) 14-21, 21-15, 14-21.
- Kidambi Srikanth beat Lu Guang Zu (China) 21-16, 21-23, 21-18
- Saina Nehwal lost to Ratchanok Intanon (Thailand) 10-21, 15-21.
- Lakshya Sen beat Anthony Sinisuka Ginting (Indonesia) 21-7, 21-9
- HS Prannoy beat Lee Cheuk Yiu (Hong Kong) 21-19, 24-22
Axelsen beats Srikanth: World No.1 Viktor Axelsen beats Kidambi Srikanth, to face Lakshya Sen in SEMIFINALS: Follow German Open Badminton LIVE updates
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