Indonesia Open 2023: Viktor Axelsen cruises past Anthony Ginting to complete title hat-trick after Chen Yufei defeats Carolina Marin
The Dane was in superb form as he claimed his second title of 2023 after Chen won the battle of Olympic champions and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty made history for India in Jakarta.
Badminton
Viktor Axelsen silenced the Jakarta crowd to claim his third consecutive Indonesia Open crown on Sunday (18 June).
The world and Olympic champion defeated home favourite Anthony Ginting 21-14, 21-13 in 47 minutes to secure his second title of 2023 in his first tournament since injuring a hamstring at last month's Sudirman Cup.
It was a tight affair at the start with the Dane taking a narrow 11-10 lead into the first interval.
But Axelsen showed his trademark athleticism in attack and defence to move away from the Tokyo 2020 bronze medallist.
The world number one raced into a 4-0 lead in the second game with Ginting unable to get back on terms despite vociferous support, and five straight points at the end saw Axelsen secure a ninth Super 1000 title.
In his on-court interview, Axelsen said, "Right now I'm just really surprised. Winning this for the third time is crazy. I want to thank all the Indonesian badminton fans even though, of course, you were supporting your local hero, Anthony Ginting.
"He's been playing so well recently and I'm looking forward to many more encounters against him."
Axelsen did not drop a game in the entire tournament.
Chen Yufei claims first Indonesia Open crown
Chen Yufei won the battle of Olympic badminton champions at the 2023 Indonesia Open in Jakarta on Sunday (18 June).
The Tokyo 2020 gold medallist from the People's Republic of China defeated Rio 2016 champion Carolina Marin 21-18, 21-19 in an hour and four minutes.
The first game was nip and tuck with Marin - playing her first Super 1000 final since her two Thailand Open in January 2021 - going into an 18-16 lead.
But Chen targeted the Spaniard's backhand and won the next five points in succession to draw first blood.
Marin was in front for most of the second game, going into a 16-10 advantage, but Chen then reeled off the next seven points to go in front.
The Chinese then converted her first match point to go one better than 2018 when she lost in the final to Chinese Taipei's Tai Tzu Ying.
Like Axelsen, Chen won all of her matches in Jakarta in straight games.
Earlier, Olympic silver medallists Zheng Siwei and Huang Yaqiong took the mixed doubles by beating Japan's number two seeds Watanabe Yuta and Higashino Arisa 21-14, 21-11 in just 35 minutes.
In women's doubles, fifth seeds Baek Ha Na and Lee So Hee of the Republic of Korea defeated Japan's Fukushima Yuki and Hirota Sayaka in straight games 22-20, 21-10.
And there was history in the men's doubles as Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty defeated Malaysia's world champions Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik 21-17, 21-18 to clinch India's first BWF Super 1000 doubles success.
The Indonesia Open was a Super 1000 event on the 2023 BWF World Tour with players earning ranking points which count towards Paris 2024 qualification.
Indonesia Open 2023: Finals results on Sunday 18 June
Mixed doubles: [1] Zheng Siwei/Huang Yaqiong (CHN) def. [2] Watanabe Yuta/Higashino Arisa (JPN) 21-14, 21-11.
Women's singles: [4] Chen Yufei (CHN) def. [6] Carolina Marin (ESP) 21-18, 21-19.
Women's doubles: [5] Baek Ha Na/Lee So Hee (KOR) def. [7] Fukushima Yuki/Hirota Sayaka (JPN) 22-20, 21-10.
Men's doubles: [7] Satwiksairaj Rankireddy/Chirag Shetty (IND) def. [2] Aaron Chia/Soh Wooi Yik (MAS) 21-17, 21-18.
Men's singles: [1] Viktor Axelsen (DEN) def. [2] Anthony Ginting (INA) 21-14, 21-13