KUALA LUMPUR: Leong Jun Hao believes his defeat to Denmark’s Viktor Axelsen in the first round of the French Open on Wednesday was another key step in his learning curve as he continues to test himself against the world’s best.
The world No. 20 went down 21-16, 21-15 to the two-time Olympic gold medallist at the Glaz Arena in Cesson-Sevigne.
It was Jun Hao’s second straight first-round exit in Europe, having lost to China‘s Li Shi Feng at the Denmark Open last week.
The 26-year-old said the defeat reinforced the areas he must improve on to close the gap with the elite players.
“I think my European tour has been a good experience,” he told the Badminton World Federation after the match.
“It shows me clearly what I need to work on. I need to keep building and improving from here.”
Jun Hao gave Axelsen a good fight in the opening game but admitted that nerves and overthinking crept in early in the second, costing him momentum.
“Maybe at the start of the second game I felt a little nervous and thought too much while trying to make him tired because he’s very big on court,” he said.
Jun Hao added that his coach had prepared him tactically for the Dane’s style of play, but executing the plan under pressure proved difficult.
“So far, the European tournaments have shown me what level I am at and what I still lack,” he said.
“Probably I need some extra fitness to maintain my speed and focus throughout the match.”
Jun Hao will now turn his attention to the Hylo Open, which starts on Tuesday in Saarbrucken, Germany.
He will face India’s world No. 62 S. Sankar Muthusamy Subramaniam in the first round.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
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