Swiss Open: Chou Breaks the Shackles
Carrying a modest 2-16 head-to-head record against Viktor Axelsen going into the semifinals of the YONEX Swiss Open 2023, Chou Tien Chen served up a massive surprise on Saturday, sending the top seed crashing out in…
· BWF STAFF
Carrying a modest 2-16 head-to-head record against Viktor Axelsen going into the semifinals of the YONEX Swiss Open 2023, Chou Tien Chen served up a massive surprise on Saturday, sending the top seed crashing out in 32 minutes.
Chou’s last win over Axelsen was in December 2019, after which he’d failed to take a game off the world No.1 in seven matches.
Today the proceedings couldn’t have been more different. While Chou was sharp on all counts, Axelsen looked on edge, with his defence failing to keep its usual high standards, while his precision in attack was off. The No.1 was unable to shift gears, and Chou quickly racked up points to prevent the Dane from getting any momentum. Rather unusually, Chou didn’t celebrate in his characteristic extravagant style at the end of the match.
- Viktor Axelsen
- Chou Tien Chen
- Koki Watanabe
- Lee Zii Jia
- Mia Blichfeldt
- Pornpawee Chochuwong
- Beiwen Zhang
- Gregoria Mariska Tunjung
- Satwiksairaj Rankireddy
- Chirag Shetty
- Ong Yew Sin
- Teo Ee Yi
- Ren Xiang Yu
- Tan Qiang
- Ben Lane
- Sean Vendy
- Yuki Fukushima
- Sayaka Hirota
- Apriyani Rahayu
- Siti Fadia Silva Ramadhanti
- Rena Miyaura
- Ayako Sakuramoto
- Baek Ha Na
- Lee So Hee
- Goh Soon Huat
- Lai Shevon Jemie
- Jiang Zhen Bang
- Wei Ya Xin