The Danish mixed doubles team of Alexandra Bøje and Mathias Christiansen were defeated at the World Championships in Paris by Chinese pair Chi Zhang and Xing Cheng. The loss follows their surprising victory against the top-seeded Chinese pair earlier in the tournament.

Zhang and Cheng secured the win with scores of 23-21, 21-12, ending Bøje and Christiansen’s run in the competition. The Danish duo, who are also a couple off the court, struggled to maintain consistency after their unexpected win in the previous round.

The match was only the second tournament that Bøje and Christiansen have played together since Christiansen’s doping suspension, which resulted from a failure to provide accurate whereabouts information.

The first set was closely contested, with both pairs demonstrating strong play. Bøje and Christiansen excelled in longer rallies, showcasing their ability to construct strategic plays. However, they faced challenges when Xing Cheng applied pressure with powerful smashes from the back line.

Despite saving two set points, the Chinese team ultimately prevailed in the first set. In the second set, Xing Cheng’s dominant play at the front of the court and speed around the court caused significant problems for the Danish team.

The Chinese pair quickly established a 5-0 lead, capitalizing on increased errors and pressure on the Danish side. At the mid-set break, the score stood at 11-4, underscoring the Chinese team’s control of the match.

The Danish pair were unable to find a strategy to counter Xing Cheng’s performance, leading to their elimination from the World Championships.