KUALA LUMPUR: World No. 5 Kunlavut Vitidsarn is relieved to avoid Victor Axelsen at the Malaysia Open but must now contend with another Danish star, Anders Antonsen, in the quarter-finals on Friday.
The Thai ace, who lost to Axelsen in the Paris Olympics final, cruised past Indonesia's world No. 10 Anthony Ginting 21-7, 21-10 in just 42 minutes in Thursday's second-round clash at the Axiata Arena in Bukit Jalil.
"Axelsen remains the toughest player on the tour. He's tall, strong in attack, and dictates matches well," said reigning world champion Kunlavut.
"My next opponent, Antonsen, is a near-complete player and is in good form now. I'm not as good as Antonsen, but I'll do my best tomorrow (Friday)."
Defending champion Antonsen, the world No. 2, had to dig deep to overcome Japan's world No. 11 Koki Watanabe 21-23, 21-18, 21-14 and book his spot in the last eight.
"Matches against Kunlavut are always tough, and I expect tomorrow's battle to be no different," said Antonsen.
Meanwhile, top seed Shi Yu Qi advanced to the quarter-finals with a 21-18, 21-16 win over world No. 16 Lu Guang Zu.
China's world No. 7 Li Shi Feng defeated India's H.S. Prannoy 21-8, 15-21, 23-21 to set up a clash with Taiwan's world No. 32 Chi Yu Jen, who came from behind to beat Hong Kong's Lee Cheuk Yiu 15-21, 21-14, 21-12.
Japan's world No. 8 Kodai Naraoka breezed past Taiwan's Chun Yi 21-14, 21-14 to secure a last-eight meeting with Hong Kong's world No. 17 Angus Ng.
Angus edged France's world No. 19 Toma Junior Popov 23-21, 10-21, 21-17 in a hard-fought encounter.