For the third time in 2026, Anders Antonsen and Kunlavut Vitidsarn clashed in a thrilling three-set match. And for the third time, Antonsen just barely came out on top.
The 29-year-old from Aarhus won 18-21, 21-17, 21-18 in the quarterfinals of the Super 750 China Masters tournament after a nerve-wracking duel lasting just under two hours.
The 2023 world champion from Thailand was the favorite, but after the players split the first two sets, Antonsen reached an incredibly high level in the third, appearing to have the upper hand against a Vitidsarn who was taking risks but becoming increasingly disheartened.
The Dane led 11-3 at the mid-game interval of the third set before the match took a turn. Vitidsarn found his rhythm and pulled ahead 16-15, before a resilient Antonsen regained control.
The Dane loudly celebrated the final few rallies he won, and ultimately—in his signature style—he hitched up his shorts once the victory was secured.
This "hat-trick" of wins against the Thai star follows a period in late 2025 when Antonsen lost to Vitidsarn at the World Championships, the season finale, and the Thailand Open.0
Antonsen avenged those losses in May by defeating Vitidsarn at both the Thomas Cup and the Thailand Open.
Up next in Saturday's semifinal is 22-year-old Jason Gunawan from Hong Kong. The other semifinal will feature second-seeded Christo Popov of France against Lee Cheuk Yiu of Hong Kong.
Later on Friday, the last remaining Danish doubles pair in the China Masters—Kim Astrup and Anders Skaarup—will take the court.
The experienced Danes are set to face the top Indian pair, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty.