The Wait Continues for Axelsen
A 12th straight defeat to his nemesis, but Viktor Axelsen chose to look at the bright side.
· DEV SUKUMAR
“I’m getting closer and closer,” he said.
He was, and yet the elusive win over his nemesis Kento Momota remained somewhat distant. Momota drew on his exceptional brand of rock-steady badminton to haul past the Dane 21-18 12-21 21-16 in 77 minutes to enter the semifinals of the Fuzhou China Open 2019 today. Their career record now stands at 13-1 for Momota, with Axelsen’s lone victory dating back to February 2014.
There was some similarity with their All England final this year, with Momota racing ahead in the first and Axelsen pulling himself level in the second. Things were poised on a razor edge before Momota’s miserliness in giving openings got the better of Axelsen once again.