Jayce
It is well-known that Viktor Axelsen’s serving routine, with his frequent side-to-side movements, can frustrate and irritate many opponents.
In the quarterfinals of the 2024 Hong Kong Open, during the match between Axelsen and Chou Tien-Chen, Chou began to mimic Axelsen’s serving routine in the second game when the score was 11-13. Chou executed exaggerated side-to-side movements before serving and paused for 2 seconds, seemingly expressing his frustration.
Axelsen was visibly upset by this. After scoring a point with a smash, he walked to the net and clenched his fist in anger.
Danish media reported that Chou Tien-Chen’s imitation of Axelsen’s serving routine created a tense atmosphere on the court, indicating a provocation towards Axelsen.
Despite this, Axelsen was not affected and won the match with scores of 21-15, 21-14.
