One year out, one title back.
Just weeks after returning from a year ban for whereabouts violations, Mathias Christiansen was standing on top of the Macau Open podium alongside Alexandra BØje. The Danish pair had reunited after more than 12 months apart and stunned the field to win their first tournament back together last month.
For Christiansen and Bøje, the Super 300 victory is a jolt of momentum heading into their third World Championships as a pair.

While Christiansen served his suspension, Boje kept competing with Robin Tabeling, whose partner Selena Piek took a break following the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. For Christiansen, it was a year of supporting his on and off court partner from afar.
“I was just trying to be there for them,” he said. “Waking up in the middle of the night, seeing if they won their matches in Asia.”
When they finally stepped back on court together, their expectations were low. Christiansen was still finding his match rhythm after a minor hand injury.
“We didn’t expect to win a match when we went there,” Bøje admitted. “We just walked out and gave everything we had. It was a wild week.”
That lack of pressure proved advantageous. They beat several top pairs on the way to the title, including HSBC BWF World Tour Finals 2024 finallists, Chen Tang Jie/Toh Ee Wei in the semifinal, instantly reestablishing themselves as a threat in Paris at the TotalEnergies BWF World Championships 2025, which run from 25-31 August. The world No.88s have drawn Canadians Ty Alexander Lindeman/Josephine Wu in the first round.
“A championship is always special,” the 25-year-old Bøje said. “Competing to be world champions is something we hope we can enjoy.”
The mixed doubles field looks vastly different from a year ago. Olympic gold medallists Zheng Si Wei and Huang Ya Qiong retired after their win at Paris 2024, ending years of dominance.
“They were by far the best pair for many years,” Christiansen said. “Their absence has made the whole category much more open.”
Even so, he knows the danger at the top.
“The two top Chinese pairings are definitely the strongest right now,” Christiansen said, acknowledging the dominance of Feng Yan Zhe/Huang Dong Ping and Jiang Zhen Bang/Wei Ya Xin.
Their build-up to the World Championships has had one more challenge. Bøje injured her hip during the Macau final and has only just resumed full training.
“It’s getting better and better,” she said. “I hope to get two good weeks of training before Paris to feel ready.”
For Christiansen, being back on court is already a win. For Bøje, reuniting is the prize. The Macau win proved they can beat anyone.