ODENSE: Frenchman Alex Lanier had waited for two years to play against Viktor Axelsen (pic) in an international tournament.
The promising 19-year-old player got his wish when their paths crossed in the men’s singles second round of the Denmark Open at the Jyske Bank Arena in Odense on Thursday.
But the match did not go as how Lanier had imagined.
Lanier was in his best form but unfortunately, his opponent, the two-time Olympic champion Axelsen, was not. Axelsen was seen vomiting and eventually withdrew after trailing 19-21, 7-11 in 39 minutes.
Lanier was 17 when he bowed out tamely 12-21, 11-21 to the Dane at the 2022 European Championships but the former has been in super form this year.
In the opening game, he showed class and was accurate with most of his shots.
Lanier, however, way sympathetic towards Axelsen.
“I felt bad for him. I looked at his face and it was pale. I wanted him playing his best badminton so I could put up a good fight against him,” said Lanier.
“I was ready for that. The crowd were too, but it’s not the way I wanted to win.
“He told me he was sick after the match. I will send him a message because I’d like to know he’s okay.”
Lanier, who won the Japan Open this year, takes on Loh Kean Yew of Singapore in the quarter-finals and based on current form, he should go through.
