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Viktor Axelsen Retires Ill from Denmark Open as Koki Watanabe Upsets Kunlavut Vitidsarn

Posted : 18 October 2024

Local favorite Viktor Axelsen will have to wait another year to claim his second title at the Denmark Open after retiring from his Round of 16 match due to illness. Axelsen faced off against French player Alex Lanier but started feeling unwell, ultimately needing to vomit into a towel after the first game. Despite being a game down, the two-time Olympic champion attempted to continue but ultimately called for the referee at a score of 11-7, indicating he could not continue the match.

 

Lanier expressed his disappointment for Axelsen, stating that he wanted to face the Dane at his best to truly compete. "I feel bad for him," said Lanier. "I looked at his face, and it was pale. The crowd was also looking forward to a good match, but it’s not the way I wanted to win." He added that he would reach out to Axelsen after the match to check on his well-being, showing genuine concern for his opponent.

 

In a notable upset earlier in the day, Koki Watanabe achieved a surprise victory over Olympic silver medallist Kunlavut Vitidsarn in straight games, 21-12, 21-19. Watanabe acknowledged that while this was his first win over the Thai player in five years, he remained humble about the achievement. "Kunlavut isn’t in his best shape after Paris 2024, so it’s not a huge achievement, but a step in the right direction," he remarked. He emphasized the importance of maintaining focus and aggression throughout the match.

 

Vitidsarn, for his part, commended Watanabe’s performance, noting that he controlled the pace of the game and applied significant pressure. "Koki has improved his attacking game since he last beat me in 2019, and he has great mental strength," he said. Vitidsarn also mentioned dealing with a foot injury but assured that it was manageable. As Watanabe looks forward to the quarterfinals, he remains focused on taking each match as it comes, rather than aiming for the championship title right away.

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