At just 19 years of age, Viktor Axelsen has won the Yonex Copenhagen Masters and by doing so becomes the youngest winner of the men's singles category ever.
Peter Gade was 23 years of age when he won the Yonex Copenhagen Masters 14 years ago in 1999. Jan Ø. Jørgensen was 21, and now the tournament has an even younger victor, so to speak.
By beating the Korean veteran, Lee Hyun Il, in the final Viktor Axelsen has become the youngest player ever to win the men's singles category, a week before his twentieth birthday.
Game winning ace
Already at the beginning of the match it was clear, that both of the two gentlemen knew what was at stake. They were focused and aware of not giving away too much possibility for the other to pull away.
Throughout the first game, Viktor Axelsen did manage to pull away though. He was ahead by both 8-6 and 14-10, and secured the game by serving an ace at 20-13.
Straight game victory
The opening of the second game was even more tight scorewise. It was not before the end of the game that Viktor Axelsen managed to create a new gap.
But when he was ahead by 18-15, almost every attending badminton fan in the Falconer Hall had an idea of where this was heading.
Viktor Axelsen eventually went on the win the game and thereby the match. The final score ended 21-13 / 21-16.
- The victory helps me stay sharp
- During the first game, I'm really good at taking a break between the rallies, and it gets me ready for the next one every time. I'm so focused on not letting him pull away from me, and I think I do okay at that, Viktor Axelsen told us after the match.
- It's always nice to finish the year well, and this victory definitely gives me a boost for next year's challenges. It's all about keeping the motivation going and stay sharp, and this victory sure help me in that mission, he added.