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Axelsen says he needs a long break after sensationally crashing out of All England

Viktor Axelsen crashed out of All England already in the first round
Viktor Axelsen crashed out of All England already in the first round ČTK / imago sportfotodienst / @ Siegfried Dammrath
Two-time Olympic champion Viktor Axelsen crashed out of the All England tournament in Birmingham already in the first round when he lost to Chun-Yi Lin from Taiwan 19-21, 21-13, 11-21.

Axelsen after the game said after the game that physically he is wiped out at the moment: 

"I didn't have the best feeling before the game. I don't want to go into details but I need a longer break at the moment. I need to recover from this defeat and then discuss with my team how to plan it. my body needs a break", said Axelsen after the game to TV2. 

The Dane seemed tense from the beginning of the match and made a serie of unforced errors but Axelsen still managed to cling on to 19-19, before Lin finally turned the first set decisively in his favour. 

Axelsen, who has won the traditional Super Series tournament twice before, recovered his composure in the second set where he occasionally showed the form which made him World No 1 for the majority of the past decade.  

Along the way, the Dane led 17-8, and he had no problems closing the second set 21-13 in his favour. 

However, from the start of the third set, Lin upped the pace and attacked the stunned Dane tirelessly as Axelsen again began to produce a number of mistakes uncharacteristic for a man of his level.

The world number 12 took a 11-5 lead and was able to extend the gap to Axelsen as the Dane grew more and more frustrated failing to settle into his usual stylish stride. 

While Axelsen crashed out, the Danish camp could take joy from the fact that World No 3, Anders Antonsen booked his ticket for the second round of the tournament with an expected win against Yu Jen Chi from Taiwan,  21-15, 21-8