Axelsen one match away from retaining title in Dubai after avenging loss to Yuqi

Viktor Axelsen is one game away from regaining his Dubai World Supeseries Finals men’s title after smashing Shi Yuqi in straight games at the Hamdan Sports Complex on Saturday.

The Danish world No 1 was ruthless as he avenged his defeat to the Chinese in the group stage with a 21-12, 21-8 demolition in just 41 minutes to reach his third consecutive final in Dubai.

In contrast to the one-sided opening men’s semi-finals, the preceding women’s semi-final was a thriller.

Akane Yamaguchi won six points in succession as she rallied from 14-18 behind to edge out Ratchanok Intanon of Thailand in three games to book her place in the women’s final.

It was an absorbing contest between the Japanese world No 2 and the Thai world No 6 that had the crowd on the edge of their seats throughout the 1 hour, 12 minute match.

Intanon led 16-11 before finishing it off with a deep forehand winner to take the opening game 21-17 in 24 minutes.

However, the former Thai world champion went down meekly in a contrasting second game in which she committed too many unforced errors as Yamaguchi levelled the tie 21-12.

The third game ebbed and flowed with Intanon leading 11-10 at the break.

Yamaguchi struggled after the restart, trailing 18-14, before staging a stunning comeback to win six successive points to lead.

Intanon saved a match-point to make it 20-19 before Yamaguchi finally found the winning shot to end 28 engrossing minutes of action.

The world No 2 displayed abundant stamina to win some long rallies, and in one rally, she had her Thai opponent running out of breath, to level the tie at 18 all.