Kuala Lumpur: World No. 1 Viktor Axelsen was virtually unbeatable as he successfully defended the Malaysia Open title on Sunday by beating World No. 7 Kodai Naraoka 21-6, 21-15 in just 40 minutes.
Highlights of Viktor Axelsen vs. Kodai Naraoka in the 2023 Malaysia Open final:
(source: Astro Arena)
“After so many long matches, I noticed Kodai was a little tired from the beginning,” said Axelsen.
“No wonder he’s tired, he has played so many good matches this week,” added Axelsen.
“For me, I am just going in to play consistently high pace and don’t give him any chances. He’ll need to work really hard to win,” continue Axelsen.
Axelsen who had a strong season in 2022, refused to name anyone who could potentially be his biggest rival in 2023. “There are many strong players, and I am sure their performance will get better and better. For me, I am just concentrating on doing my own thing and continuing to improve. I am looking forward to the next tournament.”
Viktor Axelsen talks about Lee Chong Wei at post-game interview:
(source: The Star)
As Axelsen was the first European player to defend the Malaysia Open title, Malaysian media asked the Dane whether he’ll continue to hunt for more titles so that he could break Lee Chong Wei’s all-time record of 46 BWF Super Series singles titles, Axelsen responded by saying Lee Chong Wei is a big role model for him.
“Chong Wei is a big role model and an amazing player. I played against him in this arena and I am happy he is not playing anymore because he was so good in this arena here,” joked Axelsen.
“I feel really inspired by a player like Chong Wei. To be able to look up to him and try to do as well as he did is a big motivation to me,” concluded Axelsen.
Lee Chong Wei had won the Malaysia Open title for a record 12 times and had beaten Axelsen at three Malaysia Opens (21-17, 21-9 in the quarter-finals of the 2018 Malaysia Open at Axiata Arena; 21-14, 21-13 in the quarter-finals of 2016 Malaysia Open at Axiata Arena; 21-14, 21-13 in the quarter-finals of 2016 Malaysia Open; 21-8, 21-10 in the round of 32 of 2013 Malaysia Open at Putra Stadium). Overall, Lee recorded an 11-3 head-to-head record against Axelsen.
Lee Chong Wei was the award presenter when Axelsen won the 2021 Malaysia Open.
In men’s doubles, the World No. 1 Fajar Alfian/Muhammad Rian Ardianto of Indonesia were made to work really hard to outlast young Chinese pair – Liang Wei Keng/Wang Chang 21-18, 18-21, 21-13 in the final.
“We are really grateful to be able to win our first Super 1000 tournament, and this is a motivation for us to do well in upcoming tournaments,” said Alfian.
Post-game interview of Fajar Alfian/Muhammad Rian Ardianto:
Despite the disappointment in men’s doubles, the China team managed to bring home the mixed doubles title when Zheng Siwei/Huang Yaqiong defeated Yuta Watanabe/Arisa Higashino 21-19, 21-11 while Chen Qingchen/Jia Yifan outlasted Baek Ha Na/Lee Yu Lim 21-16, 21-10 in the women’s doubles final.
After Sunday’s victory, Zheng Siwei became the male mixed doubles player who won the most Malaysia Open with a total of 5 titles, while Huang became the female mixed doubles player who won the most Malaysia Open with a total of 4 titles.
Meanwhile, the women’s singles World No. 1 Akane Yamaguchi of Japan needed 69 minutes to beat World No. 4 An Se Young of Korea 12-21, 21-19, 21-11 for her maiden Malaysia Open crown.
