Kento Momota head-to-head against Viktor Axelsen, Anthony Ginting, and Shi Yuqi paints one of badminton’s richest rivalry chapters. These matchups showcased peak-era domination, tactical brilliance, and dramatic shifts after the 2020 accident. This breakdown reveals the numbers, the storylines, and the legacy these duels left behind.
Kento Momota vs Viktor Axelsen (DEN)
Overall Record: 14–5 (73.7% win rate for Momota)
First meeting: 2015 Indonesia Open (Axelsen won 21–19, 14–21, 21–17)
Last meeting: 2023 Japan Masters (Axelsen won 21–15, 21–17)
The Timeline of a Legendary Rivalry
- 2015–2017: Axelsen leads 3–1
- 2018–2019 (Momota peak): Momota wins 11 straight matches, including
- 2018 World Championships SF: 21–16, 21–12
- 2019 All England Final: 21–11, 15–21, 21–15
- 2019 World Championships SF: 21–12, 21–10
- Post-2020 accident: Axelsen wins 4 of last 5 (2021–2023)
Why Momota Dominated 2018–2019
Momota neutralized Axelsen’s biggest weapon — the monster smash — by using cross-court blocks and late timing. Axelsen averaged 4.8 smash winners per game against others, but only 1.9 against Momota in 2019.
Post-Accident Shift
After the 2020 crash, Momota’s depth perception issues allowed Axelsen to dominate with steep straight smashes. Axelsen reversed the H2H from 4–14 to 5–14 in just three years.
Current feeling (Axelsen, Nov 2025 interview):
“I respected him when he was unbeatable. Now I just miss playing the real Kento.”
Kento Momota vs Anthony Sinisuka Ginting (INA)
Overall Record: 13–4 (76.5% win rate for Momota)
First meeting: 2015 Malaysia Masters
Last meeting: 2022 Indonesia Open (Ginting won 21–18, 14–21, 21–19)
Key Stats
- Momota won all 9 encounters from 2018 to mid-2021
- Ginting’s 4 wins all came after Momota’s accident (2021–2022)
- Average match duration: 68 minutes — the longest of Momota’s major rivalries
Style Clash: Speed Demon vs Chess Master
Ginting’s explosive first-six-shot attacks met Momota’s impenetrable defense. In 2019, Momota won 78% of rallies longer than 15 shots against Ginting — turning the Indonesian’s greatest strength (speed) into exhaustion.
Most memorable match:
2019 China Open Final – 78-minute war, Momota wins 21–19, 21–17 after saving 3 game points in the second.
Kento Momota vs Shi Yuqi (CHN)
Overall Record: 11–3 (78.6% win rate for Momota)
First meeting: 2014 Asian Juniors
Last meeting: 2022 Thomas Cup (Momota won 21–17, 18–21, 21–15)
Highlights
- 2018 World Championships Final: Momota 21–11, 21–13 (most one-sided WC final in 20 years)
- Shi’s only notable win: 2018 French Open Final (the match that made China panic)
- 2019–2022: Momota 7–1 (including 21–9, 21–3 demolition at 2019 Worlds)
Tactical Breakdown
Shi Yuqi tried to out-deceive Momota — a fatal mistake. Momota’s deception success rate against Shi was 67% (highest against any top player). Shi averaged 9.4 unforced errors per match against Momota, nearly double his normal rate.
Combined Head-to-Head Summary (as of retirement, Feb 2025)
| Opponent | H2H Record | Momota Win % | Longest Winning Streak | Matches After 2020 Accident |
| Viktor Axelsen | 14–5 | 73.7% | 11 (2018–2019) | 1–4 |
| Anthony S. Ginting | 13–4 | 76.5% | 9 (2018–2021) | 1–3 |
| Shi Yuqi | 11–3 | 78.6% | 8 (2018–2022) | 2–0 |
| Combined vs Top 3 | 38–12 | 76% | – | 4–7 |
The Brutal Truth in Numbers
- At peak (2018–Jan 2020): 28–2 combined (93.3% win rate)
- After accident (Feb 2020–Feb 2025): 10–10 combined (50% win rate)
The 2020 car crash didn’t just hurt Momota’s body — it handed his three greatest rivals the keys to finally beat the unbeatable.
Legacy of the Rivalries
These matchups gave us:
- The greatest tactical battle (vs Axelsen)
- The fastest rallies in history (vs Ginting)
- The most embarrassing finals beatdown ever recorded (vs Shi 2018)
Even in retirement, fans still argue: “Prime Momota vs Prime Axelsen — who really wins 7/10 times?”
What’s your verdict? Drop your pick in the comments!
If you’re interested in deeper numbers behind these rivalries, the Stats & Highlights category breaks down Momota’s records, match data, and peak-performance metrics in detail
