Shenzhen: Viktor Axelsen, the world No. 1 men’s singles player from Denmark, has opted to skip the China Masters in Shenzhen just under 24 hours after clinching victory at the Japan Masters on Sunday.
The Tokyo Olympic champion, initially seeded as the top player at the China Masters, took to social media to express regret and extend apologies to his fans.
“A short update to let you know that I unfortunately won’t be participating in China Masters this week. Would’ve loved to play, but my foot is simply not ready to play consecutive weeks with many hard matches.
I will take a few days to recover and get healthy before I jump on the court again. A shame, as I love to play in China, but luckily I will come back in December for the HSBC World Tour Finals.
Thanks for your support always!
Viggo”
A short update to let you know that I unfortunately won’t be participating in China Masters this week. Would’ve loved to play, but my foot is simply not ready to play consecutive weeks with many hard matches.
I will take a few days to recover and get healthy before I jump on the…
— Viktor Axelsen (@ViktorAxelsen) November 19, 2023
Axelsen, set to mark two years as the world’s number one on December 1, shared insights with the Badminton World Federation (BWF) after his 2-0 victory over Chinese star Shi Yuqi in the Japan Masters final. He revealed that he didn’t feel great before entering the China Masters, expressing fatigue and a desire to savor the moment after a final. Axelsen emphasized the need to enjoy the win before contemplating the next week’s game.
Reflecting on his performance against Shi Yuqi, Axelsen expressed satisfaction with his composure, especially towards the end of both sets. Despite being tired, he appreciated the level of the game, stating, “Shi Yuqi is a very strong opponent. I think if he could win the first game, the match may not be easy to predict.”
As a post-victory celebration, Axelsen mentioned enjoying one more piece of sushi, signifying contentment with his high-level performance in the Japan Masters final.
