Viktor Axelsen completes 100 consecutive weeks as World No. 1 in men's singles

He has also been atop the rankings for 151 weeks.

Viktor Axelsen, the Danish badminton sensation, has celebrated an impressive accomplishment, completing 100 consecutive weeks as the No. 1 player in men's singles in the BWF World Rankings. This milestone was achieved following the latest rankings update by the Badminton World Federation (BWF) on October 24 (Tuesday).

Axelsen's remarkable streak commenced on September 28, 2017, following his win over Malaysia's Lee Chong Wei in the Japan Open final. He completed 100 consecutive weeks as the World No. 1 on October 24. Overall, the Tokyo 2020 Olympic gold medalist and two-time world champion has completed 151 weeks as the World No. 1 in men's singles.

Despite an unfortunate foot injury that forced him to withdraw from the Denmark Open and retire from the opening round of the French Open, the 29-year-old has managed to retain his position as the top ranked men's singles player. A convincing straight-sets victory over fellow countryman Magnus Johannesen in the Denmark Open Round of 32 was the last match he completed. Axelsen cited a significant leg injury as the reason for his withdrawal.

Axelsen's performance in the 2023 badminton circuit has been a mixed bag. While he continues to dominate in BWF circuit events and secured medals at the European Championships, his performance in larger tournaments has been less consistent.

Notable defeats include a quarter-final loss to India's HS Prannoy in the BWF World Championships 2023 and an early exit from the All England Open Badminton Championships 2023, where he was defeated by Malaysia's Ng Tze Yong.

Nonetheless, Axelsen's retention of the World No. 1 ranking can be attributed to his victories in prestigious events, including the Malaysia Open, Indonesia Open, European Games, Japan Open, and the China Open. These wins have enabled him to maintain substantial points lead over Indonesian World No. 2 shuttler, Anthony Sinisuka Ginting.

Despite his injury setback and mixed performances in 2023, Viktor Axelsen remains a favorite to clinch the World Tour Finals title later this year and the upcoming Paris Olympics in 2024. He currently holds the World No. 2 ranking in the Olympic Games Qualification Rankings and is placed as World No. 5 in the World Tour 2023 Rankings, reflecting his enduring status as a top contender in the world of badminton.