Kuala Lumpur: The 2020 Tokyo Olympics gold medalist Viktor Axelsen of Denmark has had a strong 2022 thus far and has been installed as the favorite to win the 2022 BWF World Tour Finals. After losing to Lakshya Sen of India in the semi-final of the German Open semi-finals early this year, he then held a 39-match winning streak, which was the longest winning streak ever recorded in World Tour tournaments. The record was previously held by Lin Dan with 31 matches, from June 20, 2006, to Oct 20, 2006.
During that 39-match winning streak, Axelsen claimed the All England Open, European Championship, Malaysia Open, and the World Championships, before losing to his sparring partner Loh Kean Yew in the quarter-finals of the Denmark Open with 17-21, 10-21 in 30 minutes.
As for the women’s singles competition, Tai Tzu Ying has the highest winning rate among other women’s singles players, with 82%, and has won three titles so far this year. However, He Bingjiao of China could be her main rival at the Finals as she captured 4 titles this year with a 79% winning rate. He Bingjiao’s teammate, Chen Yufei also shared the same 79% winning rate, but the Tokyo Olympics gold medalist has only won 1 title this year.
In men’s doubles, Fajar Alfian/Muhammad Rian Ardianto of Indonesia are the clear favorite statistically. They have won 4 titles in 2022, with a winning rate of 82%. Meanwhile, their compatriots, Mohammad Ahsan/Hendra Setiawan have qualified for the Super Series or World Tour Finals seven times, the most amongst all the men’s pairs who qualified for the 2022 Finals.
With the withdrawal of Yuta Watanabe/Arisa Higashino of Japan, Zheng Siwei/Huang Yaqiong of China who have clinched 8 titles this year and with a winning rate of 96%, are undoubtedly the heavy favorites for the year-end title.
Lastly, China’s World No. 1 women’s doubles pair – Chen Qingchen/Jia Yifan are the best women’s pair in the world right now, and they have a strong chance to win their third season finale title in Bangkok as they’ve secured 5 titles this year and earned an 84% winning rate.
The BWF World Tour Finals have been relocated from Guangzhou, China to Bangkok, Thailand due to concern over the COVID-19 situation in China. And the Finals will run from December 7 to December 11– which was one week earlier than the scheduled dates for Guangzhou.
