Anders Antonsen triumphed in the final of the Super 500 tournament Thailand Open on Sunday against home favorite Kunlavut Vitidsarn.
In 2025, he lost the final in three sets against Vitidsarn, but on Sunday, he got revenge after a wild final that changed character several times.
A strongly fighting and flawed Antonsen won 9-21, 24-22, 21-18 over the World No. three after more than an hour and a half of play in humid conditions inside the arena in Bangkok.
This is Antonsen's 11th victory on the BWF World Tour and the first since October last year.
The 29-year-old from Aarhus held on to 5-5 in the first set, but then Vitidsarn took over and dominated virtually all rallies.
Encouraged by a passionate crowd, Vitidsarn took the first set very confidently, and after an even opening to the second set, Vitidsarn led 11-9 at the break.
Antonsen was able to take the pace out of the match a bit at times and put himself in promising situations, but he also made several huge mistakes in the heat.
Still the Dane often took the initiative and fought exemplarily to take the second set as he converted his fourth set point with help from the edge of the net.
Before the third set, Antonsen was frustrated when he could not find his racket grip, but it proved no disadvantage.
Antonsen took the lead 6-1 before the momentum changed completely, and Vitidsarn looked in control. The Thai won the following succession of points 11-1 and took the lead 12-8.
Antonsen, who wasn't in action in the semi-final as Chinese World No. 1 Shi Yu Qi withdrew, seemed to have more energy in store at the end of the third set, pushing Vitidsarn around the court again to take home the win.
Later on Sunday, the mixed doubles with Alexandra Boje and Mathias Christiansen will also take part in the final in Thailand. The Danish duo will face off against Chinese Zhu Yijun and Li Qian in the final.
