The astonishing comeback of Kento Momota at Singapore Open 2019
Never give up, everything is possible… This is the lesson, which all of us can pick up from the semi-final match at Singapore Open 2019.
Viktor Axelsen, the former World Champion and #1, met the current worlds champion and #1, Kento Momota.
Both players had something to prove. Viktor lost the final of All England to Kento Momota this year in 3 games and it seemed that, finally, he found the way to play against the Japanese. Playing his third big tournament in 3 weeks, Viktor seemed strong physically and mentally to give one more fight to Kento.
The Japanese player started the year from 2 victories (All England and German Open) but he also had a few tournaments where he unexpectedly lost at earlier stages, so he had also to prove his ability to keep the highest level.
The match started quite positive for Viktor Axelsen. The accuracy of his shots and an aggressive style of playing have brought the result, 11:9. But the second half of the game went according to Kento Momota’s scenario. Kento has raised the speed and the pace of the game and managed to win 7–8 points in a row. When the score was 18:12 to the lead of Kento, the result of the first game was almost defined. Without the need to go an extra mile, the player from Japan closed the first game, 21:15.
But the most interesting thing has happened in the second game of the match. Viktor Axelsen won the first 6 points and was ahead 6:0 when Kento Momota manage to take the first point and the next 3 in a row. After the 6:4 appeared on the scoreboard, Viktor made a spurt and closed the break with the 7 points gap, 11:4 to Axelsen’s lead.
After the break, Viktor continued playing aggressive and accurate badminton. It was clear that Kento Momota lost the feeling of the game. He was making many mistakes on the net and playing a defensive game, reacting to the offered game than creating the game himself. Meanwhile, it did not seem that Kento lost motivation or was too relaxed. He just lost the feeling of the game and a bit of luck. And that was something that Viktor did not notice… Kento was still dangerous.
When the score went to 16:6 and everyone, including Viktor, has started thinking of the third and deciding game, Kento began winning point by point. He took 5 points in a row and made the score 16:11 when Viktor decreased the tension and made the score 17:11. Again, the first thing that came to everyone's heads was “no, seems that the third game is unavoidable”. But Kento had a different opinion and belief. 17:12, 17:13, 17:14… at that moment, it has become clear that Viktor got mental and physical fatigue to fight the men, who decided to win…
When the score has become17 all, there were no doubts that Kento will not let Axelson go to the third game.
Kento Momota won the match and made the comeback, which would become a part of history. After the match, Viktor Axelsen was smiling but we can only imagine what he was feeling that moment…
I hope that everyone, not only those two, got a great lesson. Never give up — even if you have a 0.1% chance — never give up!
Tomorrow, Kento Momota will meet his principal opponent, Anthony Ginting, who had a great match against Chou Tien Chen, winning it is 3 games. We hope that tomorrows battle will be also exciting and both players will show their best!…
Best wishes,
Max Sydorenko for “This Is Badminton” blog,
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