Since it was announced last week that Danish talent Viktor Axelsen gets to compete in the Denmark Open qualification, he has been waiting to find out his opponent. And tonight Viktor Axelsen finally got to know that the player who he will be up against in tomorrow’s match is Ukrainian Valeriy Atrashchenkov.
And when looking at recent results, there is hope for one of Denmark’s biggest single talents. Axelsen beat Atrashenkov at an earlier encounter this month, when the two players met in Czech International.
-I beat him quite easily then but I know that tomorrow is a new match, so i need to be completely ready. But I look very much forward to playing, says Axelsen.
Will be a 110 percent ready
If Viktor Axelsens wins his first round he will then face either fellow Dane Peter Midtgaard or the japanese favourite Hayasaki. Axelsen reckons it will be a hard match should it be Hayaki who awaits in the second round.
-I know that he is a fast player, so it will be a really difficult match. But in order to go that far I need to be a 110 percent ready in my first match. But I play on home ground, so of course I am ready.
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Axelsen after his only loss on home-ground(Photo: Henrik Axelsen)
Before the final draw was made Axelsen did not really know what to expect, but after tonight he is more aware of his chances this week in Denmark Open.
-My goal is to win the first match but I would really like to go into the main tournament also, says Axelsen who sees himself having a good chance against French Lo Ping, who awaits in the first round of the main tournament, should Axelsen get through.
Valeriy Atrashchenkov is number 67 in the world rankings whereas Axelsen officially has a lower ranking, as number 98 in the world.
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