In a stunning display of talent and composure, 18-year-old
Tan, who entered the tournament with the primary goal of showcasing his skills, expressed his surprise at advancing so far. "I was supposed to leave on Friday, but I guess…," he remarked with a grin, reflecting on the unexpected turn of events.
Strategic Play and Focus
Despite the high stakes, Tan approached the match without overanalyzing his opponent. "No, not really. I just wanted to go in and just play my best. I didn't really want to think about who was standing in front of me," he stated, demonstrating a refreshing mindset for a debutant at such a prestigious event. His next challenge will be against Thailand's former champion
Ranked 92nd in the world, Tan played with a sense of freedom, unburdened by expectations. He effectively utilized the court's drift to his advantage, keeping Sen on the defensive with his aggressive style. "It's because of the drift and I just kept hitting that side," Tan explained, highlighting his tactical awareness.
His coach, Paula Lynn, who has been mentoring Tan since childhood, emphasized the importance of keeping Sen away from the front court, where he could exert pressure. "Lakshya is very good. On the first, he's putting a lot of pressure on Garrett in front. So that's why we wanted to keep him away from the front,” Lynn noted.
Overcoming Challenges
During the match, Tan faced a moment of adversity when he hit his head and felt dizzy, recalling a similar incident from a previous match. "I went for the slide and then I hit my head a little bit and wasn't feeling really well," he said. Lynn's advice during this critical moment was straightforward: "I told him to just reset." She encouraged him to maintain focus as the match intensified.
As the game reached a pivotal point at 16-18, Tan executed a powerful jump smash, followed by a cross-court shot that earned him four match points. He ultimately sealed the victory after Sen slipped while attempting a front-court shot. Reflecting on his strategy, Tan noted, "I think in the third set I kept on hitting one side and he kept on preparing, and then in the last couple of points I just changed direction and it worked.”
Lynn praised Tan's maturity and composure under pressure, stating, "For a kid like 18 years old, I was actually impressed. He's like my little brother." She expressed optimism for his future, saying, "Hopefully, he can do bigger and better things. And I'm sure he can."
