Viktor Axelsen Aims for First Title of 2024 at All England Open
Conor Hudson
Thu Mar 14 2024
World number 1 badminton player Viktor Axelsen is on a mission to claim his first title of the year at the prestigious All England Open. In the first round of the men's singles event, Axelsen demonstrated his determination by swiftly defeating former world number 1 Kidambi Srikanth from India in just 33 minutes.
Axelsen asserted his dominance in both games, quickly pulling ahead when the scores were tied at 3-3 in the first game and 1-1 in the second game. Moving on to the second round, he is set to face Chinese player Weng Hongyang and potentially clash with Indonesian star Anthony Ginting in the quarterfinals.
Axelsen's resolve at the 2024 All England Open is palpable as the tournament showcases a new look with courts featuring light gray instead of the traditional green. This change is expected to heighten interest surrounding the matches on the opening day, especially with Axelsen's track record of consistent success in recent years. The fact that he has yet to secure a title as the calendar turns to March 2024 due to injury setbacks adds an element of anticipation to his performance in this tournament.
Despite facing a foot injury, the Danish badminton ace only competed in the Malaysia Open and French Open leading up to the All England Open, reaching the semifinals and second round respectively. Axelsen's high expectations for himself at the All England Open stem from his stellar record at the event, having won 2 out of the 4 finals he has reached in the past 5 years.
The men's singles field this year saw a lone withdrawal due to injury, with Malaysia's Ng Tze Yong, who previously troubled Axelsen in the second round last year, having to pull out. He was replaced by Magnus Johannesen, another Danish player who made waves the previous week by defeating top 10 player Lee Zii Jia.
Viktor Axelsen's pursuit of victory at the All England Open 2024 is fueled by his determination to overcome his injury setbacks and add another prestigious title to his impressive career. Badminton fans ardently await his upcoming matches as he navigates through a competitive field towards potential glory.