LI-NING China Masters 2025 | Viktor Axelsen (DEN) vs. Alex Lanier (FRA) [7] | R16

LI-NING China Masters 2025 | Super 750
Men’s Singles | Round of 16
Viktor Axelsen (DEN) vs. Alex Lanier (FRA) [7]
Shenzhen Arena

#BWFWorldTour #ChinaMasters2025

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Our [Applause] last live match of the day here on court 2, the HSBCWF China Masters 2025 at the Shenzhen Arena. And it’s a big one, an all European affair in men’s singles. Victor Axelson of Denmark takes on 17 from France. Alex Lanier. So this half of the draw, the winner of our match will take on either Angus Ankalong or Anders Anson. The second seat could be Axelson versus Aninson in the quarters, an all Danish one. That will be interesting. [Music] [Applause] [Applause] What’s up? [Applause] That’s it. [Applause] Good job. Well, these two have met twice before. Last time was at the Denmark Open. Lanier won that because Axerson had to retire. So that has got an asterisk next to it to be fair. This is the future of badminton. Alex Lier, he’s taken the world by storm really. against a man who is unfortunately had some injury issues recently. 31 years of age now and Victor Axerson tall man at 1.94 25th in the world. He hasn’t played in a while apart till last week. He is a of course a former world number one first achieved in September 2017. Had a bit of a tough time against Wongqing while China needed a couple of games against him to come through. He’s a former double Olympic champion 2020 and 2024. Got bronze in 2016. A double world champion in 2017 and 2022. Won bronze in 2014. More on that in a while. Alex Lanier is 20 years of age at 180 cm tall playing at this highest ranking of seven in the world. He is the reigning European champion, former world junior champion, bronze medalist in 2023. Chiao in a another also grueling match in three on the HSBC World Tour has got three titles to his name. Won this year’s all your masters and was a runner up at the Japan Open losing to Shiuchi in the final. Su Xiao of China is our umpire and assisted by the Sean Hu ready of China. Well, just going back to Victor Axelson who has got to his name a whopping 27 titles in the HSBC BWF World Tour. This year he’s won the India Open and the German Open. That was all some time ago. He has been out of the game. He had uh surgery, endoscopic surgery in April to repair a a disc herniation. Crashed out of the first round last week, which was his comeback, five month layoff he had. No surprises there. It’s going to take him a little bit of time. Ladies and gentlemen, lost to Alex France left discouraged. He skipped last week, last month’s world championship. Just dedicate more time to his recovery rehab. also had a fever last week at the Hong Kong Open actually getting sick and not able to practice push through. Says he sets himself very high standards. [Music] said he performed at a pretty low level last hard to accept. So he’s obviously hoping for a much better performance here. Very popular in China, not least because he’s also fluent in Mandarin. There you go. The crowd enjoying that one as you can probably hear. Why is over two. [Applause] It’s gone long. That’s what you’re going to have on this end. Three, two, also had a personal separating from his longtime partner last month. So, he’s had a lot going on for him unfortunately. Two daughters together as well. So, Yeah, he’s he’s been through quite a bit in these last few months, Max. So, well, you can hear the support in the crowd. [Applause] [Applause] Let’s go. Oh, he’s done that really well. Off the serve. Three, five. [Applause] Service is over six three. Thank you. [Applause] Alex Lio challenges call out. Challenge there. [Music] [Applause] challenge there by Lanir. Started off the quicker of the two. Challenge unsuccessful. One challenge remaining. Serve is over. 4 six play. Yeah, it was since that shock first round exit of the all England in in March over 74. I think that’s been a tough tough one for Axelson played the European Championships. He was out in the second round there. On the tour itself, it was all England. He had won, as I mentioned, the the two tournaments prior to that, the German Open and the India Open. He’s also out in the first round of the Malaysia Open. So, it’s it’s been a a real mixed bag extremes for him. [Applause] probably not the kind of player he wants to be up against because Lier, ruthless players, physical specimen. Pushes opponents all the way. [Applause] Eight four This is only his second ever China Mast was out in this round. That’s going to be out. 9 4 [Music] seems to have just lost a little bit of weight as well, doesn’t he? Just a little bit of that bulk he used to have. It appears anyway. [Applause] tour is over. That’s better from Max. They first met at the European Championships back in 2022 Ason as you’d expect and the height of his powers was there winning comfortably 12 and 11 in the Denmark open won the first game 19 and then had to retire when he was 711 down for he’s kind of in that stage of his career where the injuries are becoming a little bit more common that’s oh that stayed in six nine Hey, [Applause] over 10 and six. [Applause] That’s better from him. Seven 10 Anybody? [Music] [Applause] [Applause] [Applause] Well, good comeback here from Axelson. Maybe he’s starting to get get to grip with things. We’ll sh see. Oh, wonderful reaction. Over. And he goes into the interval of this first game up 118 against Vic. [Music] [Applause] sometimes go full out the most important places are good every time you be aware of and take the pace out. Very good. [Applause] 11 late. service over 9 11 Survey is over. 12 9 [Applause] Well, you got to say that steady the ship a little bit. Get that right. A little tentative with that shot. I thought he might have Speed in two minds there. Remember he was at one point up 94. That’s out, isn’t it? Yeah. 11 12 After being up by five points, the lead is down to just one. Thank you. again. Ladian to the net. [Applause] Well, Victor Axelson in this particular tournament, the China Masters, his best performance was last year getting to the semi finals. That’s better, much better from Lanier who might have felt bit of pressure having the scores tied for the first time since they were two all [Applause] Good work from Max over 13. Is it okay? [Applause] goes long and for the first time in this match, Axerson goes in front. Rio has wiped away that five-point lead. He has won 10 of the last 14 points. So, he really has come back quite nicely, hasn’t he? He looked to be a little out of sorts at the start and has got to grip with things. Been impressive. Third [Applause] is over. Both hand. He really has lost his way. [Music] To put in a different way, he’s only won. Five points since that come five of the last 16. That’s just gone wide. That’s going to be challenges call out challenged. [Applause] No remaining [Applause] 16 14 Hey, [Applause] a whimp there from the Dane. 15. 16. [Applause] That’s gone long. heart now. Just reacting to what’s happened. Could be in for a tight finish here in this first game. [Applause] has got a pretty good year so far. 73% win rate. Had a few early exits. China, Malaysia, and Singapore opens first round. Second round exit at the India Open. Disappointing finish to his world championships at home in Paris last month. about the third round. Otherwise, he has uh had one quarterfinal, one semi-final, and three finals, two of which he’s won. feels a bit better about that. 170. Yes. Semi-final of the all England. That’s a great achievement. And then he almost repeated his heroics of the Japan Open. Thank you. [Applause] 170. That’s it. That’s good. 18 17 Good shot. Oh, he’s made it. He left it there. Lanier hoping that would just go long. Given the slight drift behind Axelson, it hasn’t come to fruition. And uh yeah, we did say earlier this was probably going to be slightly tight into the first game. 19. Could Alex could take this first game? Such a big boost for him. [Music] service over 190. [Applause] Thank you. [Applause] So Axelson in a good position here. Talked about his season earlier being tons of ups and downs. Barely played any bington. 77% win rate 19 coming into this tournament. It’s not bad at all given how it’s been for him. higher win rate than than Lier. That’s enough on there. And he saves that game point. We’re going to go into extra points here. Lier was on a a three-point streak there. A two-point streak. [Applause] It holds again and that is his first game point. Now Axelson [Applause] Now, can he convert the Dane? He does. He takes the first game. Victor Axelson. Warm applause all around the Andy Shenzen Arena. And Lanier wants to have any hope of getting through until the next round. But he’s going to have to do it the hard way again like he did yesterday. Okay. [Music] low key. You can also use once in a while with just to mix it up. Yeah. Your shots go down. You can use a little bit more cross. You can use a little bit more cross. as the shuttle is turning more into the court. Okay. Uh from the backward as uh we talked about like no rush of attack once in a while but still go a little bit up like around your head and keep reading those hips. Now the most important is to stay you are doing the right thing. That was very good investment. Now just stay balanced and strong in the legs and in the moment. What do you think? Second game. Lavo play. [Applause] is over. One love. [Applause] Well, the coach actually seemed to be quite happy. Lang said done very well in that first game. I was very impressed what you did. Um sometimes of course the positive reinforcement is a [Applause] two one remains to be seen if that is going to be effective. over. Good power there. Oh. Thank you. [Music] Third base is over. Three, two, one. [Applause] Oh, here it access started. Well, 5 [Applause] [Applause] [Applause] That power of gladiators is hard to resist, isn’t it? Three, five, [Applause] Remember landing had that decent five-point lead early on in the first game. Couldn’t hold on to it. [Applause] A lot of stairs in this cake. Six three [Applause] Seven by three. [Applause] Sorry. [Applause] Thank you. Four points in front here. Victor Axelson. [Applause] Well love that one. And it turns away in annoyance. [Applause] very similar position to where Lania was in the last game. Thank you. 8 3. So just looking at needs to sort himself out very very quickly [Applause] nine little go at himself at the moment. [Music] [Applause] and three. Well, it’s a procession of points right now for Victor Axelson. Appears that Lanny is just not at all. can’t get anything back over finally. Who breaks that run? Five points in a row. That could be very five very useful five points for Axelson who’s in his career after winning the first game he goes on to win 81% of his matches. [Applause] Evasive maneuvers there by Axerson. Not enough. That’s a tremendous record, isn’t it? And Warren, if we uh look at that record from the start of this year, it’s not going to be quite as high. Well, it is the same. Oh, sorry. Excuse me. It is Six 10. This is better from Lanier. Over. We going to the interval with a decent five-point lead here for Victor Axelson. He’s looking good. What’s up? Six in the second game having won the first. [Music] [Applause] Quick, quick. Okay. 20 seconds. Thank you, coach. Come on. Come on. [Applause] Rev six play. Easy one to finish off there for Axos’s record this year after winning the first game. It’s obviously not as many, but it goes down to 67%. The pool is much smaller, but yeah, 67%. So, it has gone down quite significantly this year. [Applause] service over 12. Stab it. Big smash again crosscourt from Axelson. Conversely for thank you Alex Lanier. Hold on, please. [Applause] [Music] [Applause] Oh, wonderful reactions. Oh, he’s got to finish that off at least return it. But really good reactions there from Victor Axelson. I think he might have even taken everyone by surprise there. did well to get down there to be fair to Lanier. Lanier has won 60% of his matches in his career having the first game. That is a great shot. That’s probably more what he wanted to do in the previous point. [Applause] this year. He’s actually gone down a little bit. That percentage small pool, but 50%. after losing the first game that year goes on to win matches and he’s in some trouble here. This is the biggest lead now that Axelson has enjoyed. is over. Nine 14. [Applause] Had a tough match yesterday against Wang Ting. Dropped the opener 2116. dragged himself back with a patient approach. So, glimpses of his best B to claw back 15 from 169 down to take the second game at 2117. That is impressive. He basically won 12 of the next 13 points. My goodness. And he said that his performance is much better than it was last week in Hong Kong. He also said his opponent was a very talented player and it’s never playing easy playing Chinese athletes especially in China. He said he’s happy he won while still in recovery. [Applause] Yeah. What what’s interesting is the these I should actually have mentioned this earlier, but the two of them have been training together in the leadup to this tournament. Thank you. This is what this is the really good thing about Victor Axis that he’s very happy to train with some of the other players out there. Loen you a good friend of his Lia said in the past Brian Yang these are the kind of players that have trained with him. That was tight. Victor challenges challenged now. Alex Lanier and he was asked if he had spotted any weaknesses during that training and he said that’s a secret. I’m excited to fight against him. Let me win and I’m happy. But he won’t let me win and I’m happy to try. That was just out of that one. The lead is cut to four points. One challenge remaining. 11 15 play. Oh, lovely recovery in a way there from Axelson. Is this the Lanier fight back here? It’s about all he could do really. This is on a bit of a roll here. Lier Three in a row. It’s his best run in a while. No pain. Make it four now. Only two points in it. Remember he was cruising just a short while ago at 148. So he’s won five of the last six points. It’s got to keep his focus here. Lanier is on a roll. [Applause] [Applause] Well, this is tremendous from Lanier. We saw the axles have come back earlier. But this is an even better one. He was down twice by quite significant margins. 103 [Applause] And Lier is in front. Oh, stunning turnaround here. Seven points in a row now. He’s got to arrest us somehow. [Applause] 16 15 still in this though. That’s the important thing to remember that even though it’s been a great run from Lanier, Axelson is by no means out here. Well, that is really good work. Blaniz just coming good at the right time. Shake of the head from Axelson. He was in such a good position at 148. Again, I’ll just remind you it was 103 and 148. Victor, he’s looking frustrated. You can just see the reaction here. Well, hopefully we get it. Yeah, there you go. There you go. He’s getting annoyed, irritated. Eight points on the trot. Best run by anyone in this match. [Applause] church from China. Is that gone long? He has. Yeah, he’s he’s now making mistake after mistake. Nine in on the trot for Alex Lanier. This is about as bad as far as he wanted to go though. This has been tremendous from the Frenchman. All the momentum has just shifted to him. He was down 9113. 9:15 I should say, excuse me. This is better for him. Oh, he’s gone well well wide there. 20 points 15. Well, it looked like he was cruising this and on the verge of winning in straight games, but Lani has pulled one out the bag and has got five game points now all of a sudden. which he converts immediately. Well, that I don’t think you’ll see many players score 12 points in a row against Victor Axelson and Alex Lani has done it. His coach was very pleased with him before even happier now. Be really disappointed with that. picked and you could see it in his body language. 215 Alexander. Yes. And then he actually opening up when you then the whole court is free and you can do whatever you want. This is what the table. [Music] [Applause] Okay. for me. New tickets. Final game. Lava [Applause] play. Good work there from Victor. That’s the first point he’s won [Music] after losing 12 in a row. And that shout from him got the crowd going there. He probably needs them a little bit support for him. Thank you. over. [Applause] It’s out ahead. Well, you’d think uh with that end to the second game that he’s got all the momentum with him. Probably didn’t want the break between matches. The way things were going [Applause] over They both won from this end where Axelson is now. Just the end with a bit more drift on it. Thank you. Third is over. Well, three. Alex Laner in his career in deciding games, he’s won about 66% of matches. That goes down to about 56% this year. Of course, he’s now playing a lot more senior stuff on the world tour as well, so it’s going to be a bit harder for him. Victor Axerson on in his career tends to win 63% of matches when they go to the deciding game. Again, irritation with himself. And when we look at his form this year in deciding games, of course, again, it’s a it’s a much smaller pool for Axelson, but he has won this year 86% of his matches over when they go to the decided game. Five [Applause] The only time he’s lost when it’s one to three has been against Linty at the All England. Good reactions there from five. Thank you. Can hear the shouts of let’s go Victor. Even the young ons are right behind him. is over on the ground there. Back in front. Oh, I think he fell down on that slippery patch there. To put some context, Lanier has now won [Applause] 18 of the last 23 points. Thank you. [Applause] Seven. Five. Oh, again wonderful stuff from Lanier. Just drops that in brilliantly. [Applause] Really nicely done. [Applause] [Music] [Applause] Good power from Maxelson. Third is over. Six eight [Music] puzzle. Seven. Eight. Good play at the net here from Maxson. Four nove. So Lana touch the net. Yeah. Ready. Let’s have a look at this. Yeah, he did touch in there. I think [Music] it looked like he did touch the net. I probably got that one correct. Eight. [Applause] point that obviously goes to a roll here now relatively speaking. Oh, that’s gone wide. Well, over 98. It might be close here, but overall since that comeback, Lier has won 21-9 a game’s worth of points. That’s how good he was towards the end of that last game. Dominant, but this is much much tighter now. 10. Third is over. Nine 10. That’s well well wide, isn’t it? Lanier leads 119 in this third game against Victor Axelson, but it’s still very very tight. And now perhaps he’ll be on the end that he might prefer. We shall see. Now time to proactive start of the land. We don’t want to to like give him the attacking shots. Now we can lift. No problems to lift but more from the good position. But the start of the rally very like proactive with the movement forward with the shots more speed into the court. If you have a chance from the good positions you can live but proactive starts of the run. Okay. Keep going up. Alex, it’s time 11 9 [Applause] play be proactive I think is what the coach was saying to Alex Lan. Oh. 12 9 really is leading this French revolution in club with Popoffs. Let’s go. [Applause] Three ahead now. He had all that pressure, didn’t he? In front of his home fans. He said he was going to stay in his zone away from distractions. No longer that underdog of course is over the target on his back these days. He seems to be a precocious young man. Great shot there. 11 [Applause] 16 11 He says he has improved mentally physically but also technically over perhaps that’s 12 coming to the four here [Music] following up a good first year. Yeah, that’s always tough, isn’t it? Good to see French bon three players inside the tops as well. 17 12 and he does say think that Lia thinks that French B is improving in all areas the staff’s more professional. There’s better structure. Young players are more professional than they were before. So he feels that they’re performing well. showing what they can do and also hope for inspiring generation. Good work there. A little powette as well from the crowd enjoyed that. [Applause] [Applause] Thank you. Thank you. Four points in this [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] service is over. 18 13 He’s got to do something to arrest this now. Axelson [Applause] Two points away here. [Applause] [Music] [Applause] 20. Nice point. 13 Seven match points now for Victor Axelson. What a turnaround this has been for Alex Lier. That is a brilliant performance from Alex Lier. Warm embrace at the end of the shake of hands. Remember he was in some trouble in that second game. Nice one by Alex, but he turned it around spectacularly. 22 21 15 21 95 down. He just reeled off 12 points in a row. [Applause] He won 33 of the last 46 points. Very, very good performance from him and a great win. It looked like Axelson was on his way back. He’s showing real signs of that anyway. and he had Axis on the ropes for a bit but he couldn’t quite see it through. A very good win there for Alex Lanier, the Frenchman who beat the seven seed beats Denmark’s Victor Axelson 2022 2115 2113. He’s done it in 67 minutes. Well, the fans have had quite the treat here today. They’ve enjoyed themselves. And that is the end of proceedings for us here on court two. And uh tomorrow, the quarterfinal day here, the China Masters will be split into two sessions. Session one starts at 10:00, four matches there, and then session two will be at 5:00 p.m. local time. Another four matches. Lots to look forward to. Thanks a lot for joining us. We’ll see you again tomorrow. And from Misha Zadhak, it’s goodbye. [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] Heat. [Music] Heat. [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music]