Sometimes all that is needed is a change of scenery.

In August, Mia Blichfeldt made the big call to leave Badminton Denmark’s elite training programme and relocate to France to live with her boyfriend Toma Jnr Popov.

At the time she said: “I have chosen to move in with my boyfriend in France, which means I have to say goodbye to the daily training in Brøndby. I have really enjoyed my 10 years of training at the national team in Brøndby, and the collaboration with the other players and all the coaches, and at the same time, I am excited for a new chapter in my badminton and personal life.”

Many wondered how that would impact her on-court results.

Well, you could say, so far, so good. With new coach Toma Popov in her corner, father of her boyfriend Toma Jnr, Blichfeldt has gone on a bit of tear.

First she won the HYLO Open 2024, completing a sweep of both HSBC BWF World Tour tournaments in Germany this year, and today produced a career highlight in defeating two-time world champion Akane Yamaguchi for the very first time.

In a third-game decider where the momentum swung each way, the ‘refreshed Mia’ hung on for a special win.

“I can’t believe I really won it. It is the first time I have beaten her. It is nice to have one win on the board now,” she said.

“I had a good start in the third game. But then I made some errors and got a bit shaky. But being behind I started to relax more and fell back into a good rhythm, found the game plan, and didn’t stress as much.

“If you look at all perspectives at life, to get fresh air and start a new chapter, gives you energy and motivation, and I’m in a good place right now in my badminton and private life, so I’m just enjoying it.”

Yamaguchi, who started the week in sixth place in the HSBC Race To Finals rankings, now has a nervous wait to see if she qualifies for the HSBC BWF World Tour Finals. With An Se Young holding an automatic entry as Olympic champion, only the next seven can qualify.

It hasn’t been a great week for Japan’s women’s single so far, with Aya Ohori (4^th) also bowing out in the first round. They’ll eagerly be watching the results of compatriot, teen sensation Tomoka Miyazaki, as well as those of Thai trio of Busanan Ongbamrungphan, Supanida Katethong, and Pornpawee Chochuwong.

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