Viktor Axelsen
Viktor Axelsen is a Danish badminton player. He was the 2017 World Champion and the bronze medalist at the 2016 Summer Olympics. He won the 2010 World Junior Championships, beating Korea's Kang Ji-wook in the final to become the first ever European player to hold the title. Axelsen was crowned European men's singles champion in 2016 and 2018.
Early life
Axelsen was born in Odense, and at six years old, his father introduced him to badminton, playing the games at the Odense badminton club. He lived with his father after his parents divorced, then lived alone in Copenhagen at the age of 17 and joined the national team. His father Henrik Axelsen ran a small advertising agency for a number of years, but now works full time as a manager for his son, and his mother Gitte Lundager has a shop in central Odense with a hairdressing salon, cosmetics and fashion clothing. He was named as 2004 Player of the Year by Odense badminton club.Career
2006–2011: Early career and World Junior title
Axelsen achievements begin when he won the National junior event in the boys' singles and doubles in his age group in 2006 and 2008. He later emerged victorious at the 2009 German Junior and also at the European U17 Championships. He made his debut in the senior international tournament at the 2009 Denmark Open played in the men's doubles event with Steffen Rasmussen.In January 2010, Axelsen who played from the qualification round manage to reach the finals at the Swedish International tournament, and finished as the runner-up after lost to Indra Bagus Ade Chandra in straight games 15–21, 12–21. He competed at the World Junior Championships in Guadalajara, Mexico, claimed the boys' singles title by defeated the No.1 seed, China's Huang Yuxiang in the quarterfinals, India's B. Sai Praneeth in the semis and Kang Ji-wook of Korea in the final. In October. he claimed his first international senior title at the age of just sixteen, winning the Cyprus International. A few weeks later he entered his first Super Series event in singles, the Denmark Open 2010; making it through the qualifying stages before losing out to compatriot and eventual winner Jan Ø. Jørgensen in the second round.
In 2011, Axelsen secured gold at the European Junior Championships, defeating teammate Rasmus Fladberg 21–8, 17–21, 21–13 in the final. He took a silver medal at the 2011 BWF World Junior Championships, lost the title to Malaysia's Zulfadli Zulkiffli, coming in second place.
2012–2014: First Grand Prix title, European and World bronze
In early 2012, Axelsen moved to Valby, in Copenhagen, and began to training at Brøndby elite center. Axelsen finished runner-up at the French Open in Paris, losing in the final to Daren Liew 18–21, 17–21. He also won a bronze medal at the 2012 European Championships losing the semi-final in three games to Sweden's Henri Hurskainen 21–18, 18–21, 17–21.In 2014, Axelsen has won his first Grand Prix title at the Swiss Open, beating China's Tian Houwei in the final 21–7, 16–21, 25–23. Axelsen won a bronze medal at the 2014 BWF World Championships and also a bronze medal again at the 2014 European Badminton Championships.
2015–2016: European champion, Olympic bronze, and Superseries title
In 2015, Axelsen finished runners-up at the Swiss Open Grand Prix Gold, three Super Series events India Open, Australian Open, and Japan Open. He qualified to compete at the Super Series Finals held in Dubai, and again finished as the runner-up. Axelsen featured in Denmark winning team at the European Mixed Team Championships in Leuven, Belgium. At the Sudirman Cup, the team finished in the quarter finals lost 2–3 to Japanese team, where he played in the second matches. He ended the 2015 season ranked as world number 6.In 2016, Axelsen earned his first European crown in May 2016 beating compatriot and defending champion Jan Ø. Jørgensen with 21–11, 21–16 in the final of the 25th edition of the European Championships, the first in France at La Roche-sur-Yon. He was also part of the historic Danish team winning the first ever Thomas Cup title in 2016. Axelsen won five of his six played singles matches in the team tournament, also against Indonesia's experienced player Tommy Sugiarto in the final setting up a dramatic and historic 3–2 victory for Denmark over Indonesia. In the 2016 Rio Olympics, he won the bronze medal by beating Lin Dan from China 21–15, 12–21, 21–17.
2017: World champion, second Superseries Finals title, World number 1
In 2017, Axelsen won the World Championship in Glasgow in two sets against Lin Dan and became the third Danish player to ever become a world champion. Axelsen, with a record of 4–3, is the only top twenty player to hold a winning record against Lin Dan, head-to-head.Axelsen followed up his victory in Glasgow by winning the finals of the Japan Open tournament in Tokyo over Lee Chong Wei of Malaysia in three sets on September 23, propelling him to the top of the BWF World Rankings.
2018–2019: Second European Championships title
In 2018, Axelsen participated in the European Men's and Women's Team Badminton Championships and got a gold after suffered from a foot injury. He represented Denmark in the 2018 Thomas & Uber Cup. In the group stage, he defeated Vladimir Malkov from Russia and from Algeria. In the group stage match against Lee Chong Wei, he lost by two straight games 9–21, 19–21. In the quarter finals match against South Korea, he defeated Son Wan-ho, but he lost to the favorite and former world no. 2, Kento Momota in semi finals. Denmark was then eliminated in semi finals but not the defending champion of 2016 Thomas & Uber Cup. In August, Axelsen was unable to defend his world title where he was defeated by two-time World Champion and reigning Olympic Champion Chen Long in the quarter finals.2020: All England Open title
Axelsen started the season by competing in Indonesia Masters. He finished as the semi-finalists after lost to home player the seventh seed Anthony Sinisuka Ginting in two straight games. In February, he managed to defend his title in Barcelona Spain Masters after beat the Thai youngster Kunlavut Vitidsarn in straight games 21–16, 21–13. In March, he won the prestigious tournament All England Open, making history as the first European and Danes to lift the men's singles trophy since 1999.Achievements
Olympic Games
Men's singles| Year | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result |
| 2016 | Riocentro – Pavilion 4, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil |  Lin Dan | 15–21, 21–10, 21–17 | Bronze |
BWF World Championships
Men's singles| Year | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result |
| 2017 | Emirates Arena, Glasgow, Scotland | Lin Dan | 22–20, 21–16 | Gold |
| 2014 | Ballerup Super Arena, Copenhagen, Denmark |  Lee Chong Wei | 9–21, 7–21 | Bronze |
European Championships
Men's singles| Year | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result |
| 2018 | Palacio de Deportes de Huelva, Huelva, Spain |  Rajiv Ouseph | 21–8, 21–7 | Gold |
| 2017 | Sydbank Arena, Kolding, Denmark |  Anders Antonsen | 17–21, 16–21 | Bronze |
| 2016 | Vendéspace, La Roche-sur-Yon, France | Jan Ø. Jørgensen | 21–11, 21–16 | Gold |
| 2014 | Gymnastics Center, Kazan, Russia | Jan Ø. Jørgensen | 11–21, 13–21 | Bronze |
| 2012 | Telenor Arena, Karlskrona, Sweden |  Henri Hurskainen | 21–18, 18–21, 17–21 | Bronze |
BWF World Junior Championships
Boys' singles| Year | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result |
| 2011 | Taoyuan Arena, Taipei, Taiwan | Zulfadli Zulkiffli | 18–21, 21–9, 19–21 | Silver |
| 2010 | Domo del Code Jalisco, Guadalajara, Mexico |  Kang Ji-Wook | 21–19, 21–10 | Gold |
European Junior Championships
Boys' singles| Year | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result |
| 2011 | Energia Areena, Vantaa, Finland | Rasmus Fladberg | 21–8, 17–21, 21–13 | Gold |
BWF World Tour (5 titles, 3 runners-up)
The BWF World Tour, announced on 19 March 2017 and implemented in 2018, is a series of elite badminton tournaments, sanctioned by Badminton World Federation. The BWF World Tour are divided into six levels, namely World Tour Finals, Super 1000, Super 750, Super 500, Super 300, and the BWF Tour Super 100.Men's singles
| Year | Tournament | Level | Opponent | Score | Result |
| 2020 | All England Open | Super 1000 |  Chou Tien-chen | 21–13, 21–14 | Winner |
| 2020 | Spain Masters | Super 300 |  Kunlavut Vitidsarn | 21–16, 21–13 | Winner |
| 2020 | Malaysia Masters | Super 500 |  Kento Momota | 22–24, 11–21 | Runner-up |
| 2019 | India Open | Super 500 |  Srikanth Kidambi | 21–7, 22–20 | Winner |
| 2019 | All England Open | Super 1000 | Kento Momota | 11–21, 21–15, 15–21 | Runner-up |
| 2019 | Spain Masters | Super 300 | Anders Antonsen | 21–14, 21–11 | Winner |
| 2018 | Indonesia Open | Super 1000 | Kento Momota | 14–21, 9–21 | Runner-up |
| 2018 | Malaysia Masters | Super 500 | Kenta Nishimoto | 21–13, 21–23, 21–18 | Winner |
BWF Superseries (4 titles, 7 runners-up)
The BWF Superseries, launched on 14 December 2006 and implemented in 2007, is a series of elite badminton tournaments, sanctioned by Badminton World Federation. BWF Superseries has two levels: Superseries and Superseries Premier. A season of Superseries features twelve tournaments around the world, which introduced since 2011, with successful players invited to the Superseries Finals held at the year end.Men's singles
| Year | Tournament | Opponent | Score | Result |
| 2017 | BWF Super Series Finals | Lee Chong Wei | 19–21, 21–19, 21–15 | Winner |
| 2017 | China Open | Chen Long | 16–21, 21–14, 13–21 | Runner-up |
| 2017 | Japan Open | Lee Chong Wei | 21–14, 19–21, 21–14 | Winner |
| 2017 | India Open | Chou Tien-chen | 21–13, 21–10 | Winner |
| 2016 | BWF Super Series Finals | Tian Houwei | 21–14, 6–21, 21–17 | Winner |
| 2016 | India Open | Kento Momota | 15–21, 18–21 | Runner-up |
| 2015 | BWF Super Series Finals | Kento Momota | 15–21, 12–21 | Runner-up |
| 2015 | Japan Open | Lin Dan | 19–21, 21–16, 19–21 | Runner-up |
| 2015 | Australian Open | Chen Long | 12–21, 21–14, 18–21 | Runner-up |
| 2015 | India Open | Srikanth Kidambi | 21–18, 13–21, 12–21 | Runner-up |
| 2012 | French Open | Liew Daren | 18–21, 17–21 | Runner-up |
BWF Grand Prix (1 title, 1 runner-up)
The BWF Grand Prix has two levels, the BWF Grand Prix and Grand Prix Gold. It is a series of badminton tournaments sanctioned by the Badminton World Federation since 2007.Men's singles
| Year | Tournament | Opponent | Score | Result |
| 2015 | Swiss Open | Srikanth Kidambi | 14–21, 24–22, 21–8 | Runner-up |
| 2014 | Swiss Open | Tian Houwei | 21–7, 16–21, 25–23 | Winner |
BWF International Challenge/Series (4 titles, 2 runners-up)
Men's singles| Year | Tournament | Opponent | Score | Result |
| 2013 | Denmark International |  Ville Lång | 21–17, 21–8 | Winner |
| 2013 | Dutch International |  Eric Pang | 24–22, 21–12 | Winner |
| 2011 | Spanish Open |  Pablo Abián | 21–11, 7–21, 21–9 | Winner |
| 2011 | Swedish International Stockholm | Pablo Abián | 19–21, 6–21 | Runner-up |
| 2010 | Cyprus International |  Simon Maunoury | 21–10, 21–11 | Winner |
| 2010 | Swedish International Stockholm |  Indra Bagus Ade Chandra | 15–21, 12–21 | Runner-up |
Personal life
In addition to his native Danish, Axelsen is also a fluent speaker of English and Mandarin.Viktor also has his webshop called Viktor Axelsen Collection. He got inspired because lots of fans asked him for his merchandise, so at the end he decided to start a webshop where fans can get his merch.
Career overview
| Singles | Played | Wins | Losses | Balance |
| Total | 492 | 360 | 132 | +228 |
| Current year | 24 | 22 | 2 | +20 |
| Doubles | Played | Wins | Losses | Balance |
| Total | 1 | 0 | 1 | –1 |
| Current year | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Record against selected opponents
Record against year-end Finals finalists, World Championships semi finalists, and Olympic quarter finalists. Accurate as of 17 March 2020.| Player | Matches | Win | Lost | |
| Bao Chunlai | 1 | 1 | 0 | +1 |
| Chen Long | 19 | 5 | 14 | –9 |
| Du Pengyu | 2 | 0 | 2 | –2 |
| Lin Dan | 9 | 6 | 3 | +3 |
| Shi Yuqi | 5 | 4 | 1 | +3 |
| Tian Houwei | 2 | 2 | 0 | +2 |
| Chou Tien-chen | 12 | 10 | 2 | +8 |
| Anders Antonsen | 5 | 3 | 2 | +1 |
| Peter Gade | 1 | 0 | 1 | –1 |
| Jan Ø. Jørgensen | 8 | 5 | 3 | +2 |
| Hans-Kristian Vittinghus | 5 | 3 | 2 | +1 |
| Rajiv Ouseph | 7 | 6 | 1 | +5 |
| Parupalli Kashyap | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Srikanth Kidambi | 8 | 5 | 3 | +2 |
| B. Sai Praneeth | 3 | 3 | 0 | +3 |
| Player | Matches | Win | Lost | |
| Anthony Sinisuka Ginting | 6 | 2 | 4 | –2 |
| Taufik Hidayat | 1 | 1 | 0 | +1 |
| Sony Dwi Kuncoro | 2 | 2 | 0 | +2 |
| Tommy Sugiarto | 7 | 5 | 2 | +3 |
| Kento Momota | 15 | 1 | 14 | –13 |
| Sho Sasaki | 5 | 3 | 2 | +1 |
| Lee Chong Wei | 14 | 3 | 11 | –8 |
| Liew Daren | 5 | 4 | 1 | +3 |
| Wong Choong Hann | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Lee Hyun-il | 4 | 1 | 3 | –2 |
| Son Wan-ho | 12 | 7 | 5 | +2 |
| Boonsak Ponsana | 3 | 2 | 1 | +1 |
| Kantaphon Wangcharoen | 1 | 1 | 0 | +1 |
 Nguyễn Tiến Minh | 1 | 1 | 0 | +1 |