Sabasports Match Preview
VICTOR Denmark Open 2024
2024-11-12 to 2024-11-17
Source: REUTERS/Aleksandra Szmigiel
The Kumamoto Masters Japan 2024 (Super 500) will be held from November 12 to 17 in Kumamoto, Japan, with a total prize pool of up to $420,000. As it is the second-to-last stop on the BWF tour this season and has a high level of competition, it has attracted many top players, including Viktor Axelsen, Kodai Naraoka, and Lee Zii Jia. However, some players have withdrawn from the tournament for personal reasons, such as An Se-young.
In the men’s singles draw, top seed Viktor Axelsen is in the upper half, while sixth seed Chou Tien Chen is in the same quarter as Axelsen. Unless there are surprises, these two are expected to compete for a spot in the semifinals. In another quarter of the upper half, third seed Kunlavut Vitidsarn and seventh seed Li Shi Feng will be strong contenders for another semifinal spot. Overall, among the players in the upper half, world number one Viktor Axelsen stands out as the most prominent. In the previous Hong Kong Open, Axelsen dominated the competition to win his first Hong Kong Open title. This is also his first tournament victory since returning from the Olympics, reaffirming his status as the top player in badminton today and indicating that he has maintained excellent form post-Olympics.
In the bottom half, second seed Kodai Naraoka, competing on home soil, will face off against fourth seed Jonatan Christie, fifth seed Lee Zii Jia, and eighth seed Anthony Sinisuka Ginting. Based on the overall strength of the players in this half, Naraoka is expected to secure a semifinal spot and is also the most likely candidate to reach the finals. Many people’s first impression of Naraoka is that he is very resilient, with strong defensive skills being his most outstanding feature. Moreover, Naraoka has a creative approach to organize his shots after defense, primarily using direct and diagonal shots to create threats, which poses a greater challenge compared to players who rely on point-based attacks. Additionally, combined with his excellent physical fitness, Naraoka presents a significant threat during matches.
Looking at the strengths of players in both halves of the draw, Viktor Axelsen and Kodai Naraoka are undoubtedly the two most likely candidates to win the tournament. However, in terms of overall strength and competitive form, Axelsen consistently outperforms Naraoka. Although Naraoka has exceptional defensive abilities, his defense may not be very effective against Axelsen’s aggressive playing style. The two have faced each other six times before, with Axelsen holding an overwhelming advantage with a perfect record of six wins. Therefore, if they do meet in the finals, Axelsen would undoubtedly be the more likely champion.