The match lasted over an hour as the pair went toe-to-toe in three fascinating games before Lee proved too strong for Denmark’s Axelsen in the decider to complete a 30-29, 20-22, 21-9 triumph.

While Axelsen was in his seventh straight major final, Lee was in his first but refused to be overawed by the occasion as he etched his name on the trophy.

"I’m happy, excited, sad - everything has come into one moment so it’s hard to describe the feeling right now," said Lee.

"Both of us played very well until the third game, when Axelsen lost a bit of focus and that’s the moment I had the advantage.

"The first game at 30-29 was a very tough game and coming into the second game I had to focus on every single point.

"I couldn’t afford to lose focus, otherwise my opponent would have taken advantage.

"This is what I told myself to 'focus on every point'."

Axelsen admitted his efforts in the previous four matches, where he was taken to a decider in three of them, had taken its toll.

"It was a crazy match, really close," said Axelsen.

"I think Lee Zii Jia played well in the crucial points today, and I was a little too sloppy at times.

"Unfortunately, I’ve spent quite a bit of energy this week playing long matches, and it took its toll a little bit.

"I think Lee was the rightful winner today, so I want to congratulate him."

Japan’s Nozomi Okuhara secured the women’s singles crown for the first time since 2016, following a 21-12, 21-16 win over Thailand’s Pornpawee Chochuwong.

"I’m very happy to be the All England champion again," said Okuhara.

"Five years ago, I won here and there was no pressure.

"This time I’m in the top five in women’s singles so that has changed things.

"But my overall play is now at a higher level."

Yuta Watanabe of Japan became the first male player to win two doubles titles at the All England Open in almost two decades.

The 23-year-old and Hiroyuki Endo defended their 2020 title in the men’s doubles with a 21-15, 17-21, 21-11 triumph against compatriots Takeshi Kamura and Keigo Sonoda.

He then joined up with Arisa Higashino to come out on top in an all-Japanese mixed doubles final as the pair defeated Yuki Kaneko and Misaki Matsutomo 21-14, 21-13.

"Winning both titles was my goal, but I’m not completely satisfied at this level," said Watanabe.

"I want to brush up my skills and match other top-level players.

"Winning the two titles was something I could prove to the world."

Japan claimed a clean sweep in the doubles events as Mayu Matsumoto and Wakana Nagahara won the women's doubles competition.

Matsumoto and Nagahara secured their first Badminton World Federation World Tour Series 1000 crown after overcoming compatriots and defending champions Yuki Fukushima and Sayaka Hirota 21-18 21-16.

"We’ve never won this title, so this is a milestone for us and we’re really happy to have won," said Matsumoto.