Will world champion Viktor Axelsen end the year 2017 with another great victory? The Dane is only one game away from regaining his BWF Dubai World Superseries Finals men’s singles title after smashing Shi Yuqi in straight games at the Hamdan Sports Complex on Saturday.
The defending champion Axelsen reached his third straight final at the 1 Million US Dollar tournament with a comprehensive 21-12, 21-8 win over China’s Shi Yuqi.
“It was a new day. Unfortunately it seems like he suffered a bit,” said Axelsen. “I’m happy with the way I played. I felt a little bit (strain) in my back at the end of the second game, but it’s okay now.
“I accepted that I might not be 120 percent. I’ve been in the final three times now, I hope I can make it two wins. I’m happy to be here, it’s an awesome place, and I’m enjoying it.”
Axelsen lost in three games to the Chinese only a few days earlier in the group stage. In Sunday’s finals, the 23-year old will face former world number one shuttler Lee Chong Wei.
Chong Wei exacted sweet revenge over South Korea's Son Wan Ho on Saturday to reach the finals in Dubai. Chong Wei, who went down in three games to the Korean just a day earlier in the group stage, chalked up an impressive 21-17, 21-11 win to set up a date with Viktor Axelsen.
In the women's singles, India's P.V. Sindhu will play Japan's Akane Yamaguchi for the Superseries crown. In today’s semi-finals, Sindhu defeated China's Chen Yufei 21-15, 21-18 while Yamaguchi had to slog hard before clinching a 17-21, 21-12, 21-19 win over Thailand's former world champion Ratchanok Intanon.
In the men’s doubles category, Denmark's Mathias Boe and Carsten Mogensen lost to Liu Cheng and Zang Nan of China in the semi-finals.
Article by Manuel Rösler. Photo (LIVE) by BadmintonPhoto.