Odense: For the second time in his career, Anders Antonsen claimed victory at the Denmark Open, defeating Japan’s Koki Watanabe in the final on Sunday.
Anders Antonsen vs. Koki Watanabe in the 2024 Denmark Open final:
Antonsen’s victory was Denmark’s first since Viktor Axelsen’s in 2021. The 27-year-old World No. 4 delivered an outstanding performance, winning 21-15, 21-16, over World No. 13 Watanabe.
Antonsen previously won the Denmark Open in 2020, although that edition of the tournament was marked by the absence of many Asian powerhouses due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This year, with full participation, no one could stop Antonsen from claiming the top spot on the podium.
Antonsen approached the final with a tactical mindset, skillfully neutralizing Watanabe’s offensive play and maintaining a varied tempo. It was evident that Watanabe struggled to find his rhythm, leading to a higher number of errors as he tried to force the game.
In men’s doubles, Kim Astrup and Anders Skaarup Rasmussen couldn’t bring double joy for Denmark as they fell short against China’s World No. 1 pair, Liang Wei Keng and Wang Chang. Astrup and Skaarup lost 18-21, 17-21 in a hard-fought match.
The tournament saw Wang Zhi Yi beat An Se Young 21-10, 21-12 in the women’s singles final, Feng Yan Zhe/Huang Dong Ping won the mixed doubles title, while Rin Iwanaga/Kie Nakanishi of Japan claimed the women’s doubles title.