The disagreements between the two players were related to Axelsen's serve, where Shi Yu Qi felt that the Dane was delaying the serve unnecessarily, which is illegal according to BWF's rules.
While Axelsen has previously been a proponent of initiatives to address time delays, his own serves have been the subject of debate, and the consistent enforcement of the service rule is a concern for him and other players.
It could be a split second to control your breathing before you are about to serve. But the precious moment when badminton players gather themselves before potentially crucial rallies is now meticulously observed to keep track of ‘service undue delay.’
It has gradually turned into a signature move from the Dane to drive the ball and racket from side to side several times before serving.
He has done that for several years now, but it turned into a problem for Viktor Axelsen when Shi Yu Qi did not want to receive the serve in the second set because he thought Axelsen was delaying the game.
The Chinese player then addressed the "service umpire," but that is also illegal according to the rules. Instead, Shi Yu Qi should have taken up the matter with the Head Umpire, and that incensed Axelsen even further.
"I felt he spent too much time serving. I think it took too long, so that's why I complained a bit to the service umpire. Axelsen didn't think I had the right to do it, so there was a conflict, but that's normal on the court", Shi Yu Qi said to TV2 Sport after the match.
Axelsen was upset that he needed to explain his service technique again after the match.
"I'm so tired of talking about that serve. I'm not the first to serve like that. I served like this a long time before the Olympics", said Axelsen after losing 19-21, 21-17, 17-21.
Shi Yu Qi will face the Indonesian Jonathan Christie in Sunday's final at the Denmark Open tournament.