The Uber Cup hosts took a major step towards the quarterfinals. 

The tie between Malaysia and Denmark was on paper one of the most exciting ties of the Uber Cup group stage. The winner would have a big shot at making it to the quarterfinals. 

Mia Blichfeldt was the first Dane to walk on court at the much-anticipated event. After a shaky start, the reigning European Games champion was trailing 7-2. 

Blichfeldt domination
Slowly Blichfeldt worked her way into the opening game, and after attacking especially the forehand side of her Malaysian opponent, Blichfeldt took the lead 11-8 at the interval. 

Before today’s matchup the two players had never met before, but it was clear for everybody watching that if Blichfeldt controlled the speed, the Dane would be dominating. The World number 12 won the opening game 21-11 following up in the second game winning 21-7.

- I think that I had a lot of emotions, feelings, and pressure from myself, which I had to throw away. I played well, calm, and relaxed. It is always difficult to play on a team on homecourt. It is a big thing, and it was a big thing for me to be the first Dane on court, Blichfeldt stated.

Denmark with 2-0 lead

Maiken Fruergaard and Sara Thygesen followed up on Blichfeldt’s win by winning the first women’s doubles of the tie. The Olympians won the first game against Lee/Thinaah 21-19, before the Malaysians won the second game 21-10.

The Danish women’s doubles pair god a perfect opening leading 6-0 in the decider, and Fruergaard and Thygesen secured the second point for Denmark winning 21-13.

Malaysia bounced back
In the second women’s singles, Line Christophersen lost in three games, 21-18 18-21 15-21, to Eoon Qi Xuan, who Christophersen beat at the World Junior Championships back in 2018.

- I did not play my best game. I think I made it stressful for myself.

- We were leading 2-0, so I could play more freely, and of course, you always want to win, Christophersen said.

Youngsters became match winners
Freja Ravn and Amalie Magelund are two of the shining talents in European badminton, and the young Danes got one for the memory this Saturday.

Magelund and Ravn won the fourth match of the tie in straight games, 21-13 21-19, and secured the Danish victory.

- It sounds really awesome to be the match winners. We really wanted this win. It was nice to play in the venue, the fans were amazing, and so were our teammates, Amalie Magelund said.

- It was a relieve to win this match. It was not supposed to be so close at the end, because I thought we played well, and I am just happy we got out in two games, Freja Ravn added.

The final score of the tie between Malaysia and Denmark was 4-1. Line Kjaersfeldt also won her matches in straight games.

Denmark vs. Malaysia 4-1

Mia Blichfeldt – Kisona Selvaduray 21-11 21-7

Maiken Fruergaard/Sara Thygesen – Lee Meng Yean/Thinaah Muralitharan 21-19 10-21 21-13

Line Christophersen – Eoon Qi Xuan 21-13 21-19

Amalie Magelund/Freja Ravn – Teoh Mei Xing/Yap Ling 21-13 21-19

Line Kjaersfeldt – Letshanaa Karupathevan 21-18 21-14