SMASHING STATS: SPAIN MASTERS 2021
Following an eight-week break, the HSBC BWF World Tour 2021 season resumes today in Huelva with the Super 300 Spain Masters.
Feast on these while waiting for the action to start.
Viktor Axelsen is the only player to triumph more than once (2019, 2020).
With the Dane and inaugural edition-winning compatriot Rasmus Gemke giving this year a miss, a new men’s singles champion will be anointed on Sunday.
With six titles across four categories over three years, Denmark sit atop the performance table.
They are also the sole European nation to have produced titlists.
Other than Denmark, five nations have toasted champions – Korea, Japan, Chinese Taipei, Indonesia and Thailand.
Kim Astrup, Anders Skaarup Rasmussen and Niclas Nohr are three former winners competing.
While Astrup/Rasmussen are men’s doubles title-holders, Nohr won mixed doubles with Sara Thygesen in 2018.
He partners Amalie Magelund this time, meaning he has the rare chance of winning the same event with two different players.
No nation has done a sweep but with seeds in every discipline, Indonesia could make it a first.
Top seeds in three categories – men’s singles (Shesar Hiren Rhustavito), women’s doubles (Magelund/Freja Ravn) and mixed doubles (Rinov Rivaldy/Pitha Haningtyas Mentari) – could win their first Super 300 title.
Axelsen (2019, 2020) and women’s doubles shuttlers Mayu Matsumoto/Wakana Nagahara (2018) and Greysia Polii/Apriyani Rahayu (2020) are the only top seeds to have won their events.
Standout Stat: It is yet to crown a local winner. Top seed Carolina Marin unexpectedly lost to Pornpawee Chochuwong in the women’s singles final last year.
