Unfortunately, Viktor Axelsen has to withdraw from the VICTOR DENMARK OPEN due to an injury to his left foot. 

The top seeded in the men’s singles category at the VICTOR DENMARK OPEN, Viktor Axelsen, will not be going on court today against Malaysian Lee Zii Jia. The match was scheduled to be played today, Thursday, at around 6:00 PM, but due to an injury to his left foot, Viktor Axelsen has been forced to withdraw from the tournament. 

– I am, of course, very disappointed and frustrated that I cannot compete today. I love playing in Odense and in front of the Danish audience, but it would not be safe for me to play. Hopefully, I can start my rehabilitation quickly and effectively so that I can get back on court as soon as possible, says Viktor Axelsen. 

Lee Zii Jia is now through to the quarterfinals of the VICTOR DENMARK OPEN which will be played tomorrow.  

If Viktor Axelsen recovers in time, his next challenge will be the French Open, which begins next week. 

Get well soon, Viktor. 

Click to see the full schedule of Thursday

All England final rematch and a lot of crowd favorites take the court on VICTOR DENMARK OPEN’s third day.

Seven Danish matches await the home crowd in Odense. Among them a rematch between the 2021 All England finalists Viktor Axelsen and Lee Zii Jia.

Besides Axelsen and Lee Zii Jia starts like Kim Astrup/Anders Skaarup, Carolina Marin, Loh Kean Yew, Kang Min Hyuk/Seo Seung Jae, Chen Yu Fei, Tai Tzu Ying and many others are ready to hit the ground running for the second round of VICTOR DENMARK OPEN.

Click to see the full schedule of Thursday

The second day at VICTOR DENMARK OPEN followed in the footsteps of the first. Rasmus Gemke delivered one of the tournaments biggest sensations yet, when he beat the world champion Kunlavut Vitidsarn. Read along for the Danish fixtures, their results, and quotes from the players.

Click here to see all the results on Wednesday

Mathias Thyrri/Amalie Magelund – Chen Tang Jie/Toh Ee Wei: 15-21,21-23

The ninth ranked Malaysian pair had never before today’s matchup met the Danish mixed double. Thyrri/Magelund sought resurrection from the last tournament on home soil, where they fell short in the first round of the world championships in Copenhagen, due to Mathias Thyrri’s ankle injury leading up to the championship.

After two close and well fought games the Danes face a first-round exit. The Malaysian pair hit the ground running, and it turned out to be too big of a challenge for Thyrri/Magelund, even though they came remarkably close in a well-played second game.

– Disappointment and annoyance, which is how Mathias Thyrri described his emotions after the first-round loss. Even though the loss was a bitter pill to swallow, the pair can take a lot of positives with them through the rest of the season, and they could point out their flaws and mistakes.

–  I feel like we were good on our own serve, which is one of our strong points. On the other hand, we were not so great on their serve, and we were not able to return the shuttles well enough, said Amalie Magelund after the match.

Despite the defeat, the pair could enjoy the moment of taking the court to their first VICTOR DENMARK OPEN as a pair and play a tournament in their home country free from injury.

–  It was great. We had a tough world championship experience on home soil, so we wanted to show our best, and I feel like we did that in the second game, added Thyrri about the home ground experience in Odense.

Line Kjærsfeldt – Pornpawee Chochuwong:19-21,21-17, 22-24

Line Kjærsfeldt has stood against the Thai number 13 in the world three times before today’s matchup, and all three fixtures has ended up with a victory for Chochuwong. Today was a chance for the Danish single player to turn the momentum around.

Line Kjærsfeldt came close to breaking the stream of defeats against Chochuwong. After three close and well played games in a dramatic match Pornpawee Chochuwong moves on to the second round of VICTOR DENMARK OPEN.

– I am disappointed and frustrated. The margins were against me, had they been with me, then I would have stood here with the win, said Kjærsfeldt about the close fought match.

Kjærsfeldt played a great match in front of an equally great crowd in Odense. Despite the tough defeat, Line Kjærsfeldt was able to put her performance and home ground experience into words.

– Despite it all it was a wonderful experience. I think i played a good match, so it is very frustrating not standing here with a victory, said Line Kjærsfeldt.

 Maiken Fruergaard/Sara Thygesen – Rin Iwanaga/Kie Nakanishi:16-21,15-21

A rematch of a remarkably close and exciting world championships quarter final created high expectations. The two double pairs have met two times before, both fixtures in the ongoing season and both fixtures ended with Japanese victory.

Maiken Fruergaard/Sara Thygesen fought bravely but did not manage to break the trend of Japanese victories. Iwanaga/Nakanishi played with control and initiative, and never seemed to be in any sort of distress. The Danish double pair played well in brief periods during the match, but the Japanese pair managed to close the match in two comfortable games.

– I feel like it is our own fault. It is frustrating that we lose, not because they play well, but because of our own mistakes. They did play well, but we did not reach any level, we make too many mistakes and I do not feel like it reflects how we have trained leading up to this tournament, said Fruergaard after the game.

– I do not feel like they are difficult to play against. What makes it difficult is our way of handling things, which is where our trouble lies. We had a great game against them at the world championships, added Thygesen.

Despite the frustration about the performance, the pair had time to put into words how it is playing in front of a great home crowd.

– It is always great to play at home, it is just so annoying that we cannot deliver some more. But it is a great feeling to walk in there and feel that it is you they are cheering for, said Fruergaard.

Rasmus Gemke – Kunlavut Vitidsarn (4. seeded):21-15,15-21,21-19

Rasmus Gemke beats the world champion and advances through to the second round.

– It is ridiculous, it is crazy, and I can feel it running through my mind right now with happiness, and what a surprise it was. I was of course on the ropes, and it was hard to find flaws in his game, he was playing well, not that I was playing badly, it is crazy, said an ecstatic Gemke after the match.

It was indeed a ridiculous match. It had its ebbs and flows, and the two single players delivered world class badminton. Gemke managed to break a four-point deficit at 15-19 and won six points in a row and therefore the match.

The atmosphere matched the world class play, and Gemke put into words what an experience it was playing in front of a loud and packed Jyske Bank Arena.

– It was amazing. The world championships were a crazy experience, and you can just feel that it touched something in the Danish badminton-hearts, another great experience out there, said Gemke.

In the second round the Taiwanese singles player Lin Chun Yi awaits Rasmus Gemke.

Viktor Axelsen (1. seeded) – Magnus Johannesen: 21-7, 21-9

Viktor Axelsen proved to be too much of a challenge for the up-and-coming Danish men’s single player Magnus Johannesen.

The two Danes played the first of two purely Danish fixtures Wednesday evening, and the result was never in any doubt. From the first point till the last the world number 1 Viktor Axelsen left nothing to chance and was in complete control throughout a comfortable victory in two games.

– It was good to get going, I am happy about the victory. But I am struggling with my body, so I think the chances of me playing tomorrow are very slim, said a downcast Viktor Axelsen.

– It was not what I had hoped for. Of course, it was a very tough match, to play against Viktor. If I were to have a chance, I had to play my best, and I did not today, said Magnus Johannesen after the match.

Despite the defeat, Johannesen had time to put his debut experience and the support from the crowd into words.

– It was great even though I had a tough time against Viktor. The support was great even though it was a clear win for Viktor.

In the second round the Malaysian star Lee Zii Jia awaits Viktor Axelsen if he is fit to play. If he withdraws from the tournament, we will announce it as soon as possible.

Line Christophersen – Mia Blichfeldt: 21-18, 21-14

Line Christophersen managed to beat fellow Dane Mia Blichfeldt in two games Wednesday night.

Mia Blichfeldt hit the ground running and was in good control during the most of first game. Line Christophersen managed to fight back and won eight points in a row before taking home the first game. From the beginning of the second game Christophersen was in complete control and won the match in two games.

– It is a huge relief, and I am very happy, said Christophersen about her emotions after the match.

– A bit of a weird match, I could sense that we were both nervous. Weird play during the match and a lot of weird duels, added Line Christophersen.

The support from the crowd towards the Danish players has been amazing throughout the day, and Christophersen put into words how the support felt during the match against her compatriot.

– A great atmosphere, but you could feel that you played against another Dane, said Christophersen.

In the second round Chinese Zhang Yi Man await Line Christophersen.

Kim Astrup/Anders Skaarup (7.) – Keiichiro Matsui/Yoshinori Takeuchi: 21-14, 21-17

The Danish pair are playing some of their best badminton and are amongst the favorites for this year’s VICTOR DENMARK OPEN. They managed to continue their great play and won their first-round fixture in two comfortable games against the Japanese pair, even though the second game was more demanding than the first.

– It is great to get going. Two games, and it was great to step on the court. A lot of people had stayed in the arena to watch us play, it was a wonderful experience, said Astrup about the match and the atmosphere amongst the home crowd.

– I feel like when we create variation in our game, reset a little, and get going with our offensive play, then we break through. We sharpen our game at the end, added Skaarup about the end of the second game.

In the second round the Danes will face the German pair Mark Lamsfuss/Marvin Seidel.

Three Danish matches, three Danish victories, and a phenomenal Danish start at this year’s Victor Denmark Open. Read along here for a review of Tuesday’s biggest matches and quotes from the players.

51 days after the WC in the Royal Arena, it is time again for a big badminton event on Danish soil.

Today the VICTOR DENMARK OPEN 2023 began, and for the second year in a row it is in the Jyske Bank Arena in Odense. Whether you have bought a ticket or are spending the autumn holidays behind the TV screen, there are exciting matches to look forward to.

The first round is played on Tuesday and Wednesday. The majority of the Danish first round matches will be played on Wednesday, but there was still a lot to look forward to on the first day. Below you can get an overview of some of the most interesting matches, results and quotes from the players. TV 2 SPORT broadcasts every day from VICTOR DENMARK OPEN 2023.

Christo Popov – Anthony Ginting (2nd seed): 15-21, 15-21

21-year-old Christo Popov has teased world number one Viktor Axelsen both at the European Games and the EC for teams, and today the Frenchman should try to do it to world number 2, Anthony Ginting. And it was not at all unthinkable. Popov had the statistics on his side. He won their only match between them, which was left at the Indonesia Open 2021. Here the figures were 21-17, 21-18.

The young Frenchman Christo Popov was not able to repeat the success of the last head-to-head from 2021. Popov was fine in both sets, and the young Frenchman provided great play and long duels, which he is a guarantee of, but he succeeded never gaining control of a match that was predominantly Ginting. Indonesian world number two Anthony Ginting finally managed to get over his Denmark Open complex and play convincingly in the second round in a comfortable victory in two sets. It is the first time that the former China Open winner has played his way through the first round at the Denmark Open, despite having participated five times before this year’s edition.

Click to see all the results from Tuesday’s matches

Ong/Teo – Satwiksairaj Rankireddy/Chirag Shetty (3rd): Satwiksairaj Rankireddy/Chirag Shetty withdraw. Ong/Teo wins by walkover.

Another treat of a match on the first day. When the draw was announced, it was world number 3 against number 9. Since then, the Indians have only improved that ranking, so that they are now number 1 in the world for the first time in their career, although they remain 3rd seed at the VICTOR DENMARK OPEN. If you look at the matches between the two pairs, it could well be a nerve-wracking duel in the first round. The Indians lead 4-3 in their clash, and in five of the seven games the winner has been found after three sets. Among other things, in the latest showdown at the Asian Championships in April, where Rankireddey and Shetty won 21-19 in the third set.

The treat that was planned in the first round at this year’s Victor Denmark Open in the meeting between the world number 1 and 9, must be said to be something of an anti-climax, as the newly crowned Indian winners of the Asian Games Satwisairaj Rankireddy/Chirag Shetty were forced to cancel. Thus, Ong/Teo goes on without a fight. In the second round, the winner of Akira Koga/Taichi Saito and the compatriots and the Arctic Open finalists Man/Tee await.

Mathias Christiansen/Alexandra Bøje – Tang Chun Man/Tse Ying Suet: 21-17, 18-21, 21-19

The statistics were good for Christiansen and Bøje before the meeting in the first round against the pair from Hong Kong. The score is 3-1 in Denmark’s favour, where the latest match at the India Open this year ended with a Danish victory in two sets. However, Tang and Tse come with great results in the bag after a final place at the Super 500 tournament Hong Kong Open, and twice before they have won bronze medals at the World Cup. Conversely, Mathias Christiansen and Alexandra will not enter the tournament in the best shape, as the former was injured in the quarter-finals at the Arctic Open last week.

First match with Danish participation at this year’s Victor Denmark Open and first Danish victory.

– It’s great to play at home, it’s something very special and we enjoy it, said Alexandra Bøje about the experience of playing at home in Odense.

At a little after 15:00 Mathias Christiansen/Alexandra Bøje occupied a well-prepared Jyske Bank Arena in Odense, and an hour and eight minutes later the Danish mixed doubles could advance as winners in the first round match against the former Denmark Open winners Tang Chun Man/Tse Ying Suet from Hong Kong after a true horror in three sets.

– They are difficult to play against. They are two technically very skilled players, they play with a big overview. They may not play crazy fast, as we know from many of the other top pairs, but they play with great care and they are tactically astute, said Mathias Christiansen about today’s opponent, who forced the pair into three close sets.

The first set was a close affair, where the balls waved back and forth, however, it was with Chinese characters, and it seemed that Liang/Wang played with more energy and courage for life on court 1. This turned Kjær/Søgaard to the extent that where from the beginning of the second set they take the initiative and take the fight. The Chinese world stars bit off during the second and third sets, but Kjær/Søgaard manage to keep their cool and win two sets in a row and advance to the second round.

– It is early in the tournament, but it is clear that the best pair we have beaten is a pair that is in the conversation to be the best in the world. It’s super cool. We broke the boil last week with a win over a top 10 pair in Ong/Teo, and now we beat a top 5 pair here, said Rasmus Kjær about the win and its significance, and the pair’s upward form curve.

In the second round, another Chinese pair awaits in He Ji Ting/Ren Xiang Yu.

Loh Kean Yew – Kodai Naraoka (3rd seed): 19-21, 21-6, 21-19

World number three against number nine in the rankings. Welcome for a match in the first round. Loh Kean Yew, who is ranked lowest of the two players, has the upper hand in the head-to-head as he leads 3-0. Both players reached the semi-finals last year at the VICTOR DENMARK OPEN and both have proven to be good at major tournaments. Loh Kean Yew became world champion in 2021, and Naraoka won a World Cup silver medal in August in Denmark.

After a marathon three-set match, Singaporean former world champion Loh Kean Yew advances to the second round at this year’s Victor Denmark Open.

1 hour and 20 minutes it should take the two cocks to find a winner. A match that offered drama, great duels, yellow cards and a lot of sweat on the floor, Loh Kean Yew could draw the longest straw. He did so after a back-and-forth first set, then sat on top of things in the second set, then held the tension until the end in a close third set.

It was two players each with their own ambition for the match. Naraoka would bide his time and play long languishing duels, while Loh Kean Yew would attack and play quickly especially towards the end of the match, the latter proving victorious.

Loh Kean Yew was asked by Badminton Denmark about the victory and its importance, and he replied:

– It is an important victory. Any win is an achievement in itself, it’s been a long season. Hopefully I can continue, said Loh Kean Yew.

– It was very intense at the end, it could have gone to both of us, added Loh Kean Yew.

In the next round, Danish Anders Antonsen awaits Loh Kean Yew. It is something Loh Kean Yew looks forward to with both awe and optimism.

– He is a difficult opponent, but I look forward to playing against him, we have to see how he looks on the day, said Loh about the Danish Antonsen.

From this year, Denmark’s biggest badminton tournament is called VICTOR DENMARK OPEN.

The leading badminton brand VICTOR has stepped up their engagement in Danish badminton and more precisely the DENMARK OPEN.

Together with Badminton Denmark, a four-year agreement has been entered into for a title sponsorship at the second oldest international badminton tournament on the World Tour.

VICTOR was the ‘presented by’ sponsor in 2022, but in 2023, 2024, 2025 and 2026 the Super 750 tournament will be called the VICTOR DENMARK OPEN.

The new title sponsorship pleases Badminton Denmark’s director, Kristian Langbak.

“We are extremely happy with this agreement and the collaboration with VICTOR in general. We are proud that VICTOR chooses to strengthen their engagement for the benefit of Danish badminton, and with a four-year agreement, this is a showcase of how attractive the DENMARK OPEN is,” emphasizes Kristian Langbak.

VICTOR is already a sponsor of the Danish National Team and tournaments such as the senior Danish Championships and the Danish Youth Championships.

“DENMARK OPEN is a prestigious and long-standing event, and VICTOR is very honored to have acted as the equipment sponsor for an extended period. Starting this year, we are thrilled to become the title sponsor. We look forward to a deeper collaboration with Badminton Denmark and aim to make the event even more perfect,” says Jeff Chen, the Chairman of VICTOR.

VICTOR DENMARK OPEN 2023 will be held 17-22 October in Jyske Bank Arena in Odense.