While Sen celebrated a successful outing, the day proved disappointing for veteran
Sen Cruises into Final Four
The quarterfinal clash between Sen and Tanaka was decided in 40 minutes, with the Indian eighth seed asserting his authority during key exchanges. After a competitive start, Sen broke away from a 5-5 deadlock to establish an 11-7 lead at the interval. Although Tanaka attempted to bridge the gap with aggressive cross-court smashes, Sen remained composed, utilizing precise follow-up shots to maintain his advantage. He eventually secured the opening game 21-16.
The second game followed a similar pattern, with the players trading points early on. Sen’s ability to dictate the pace proved decisive; he moved ahead 17-13 after forcing errors from his opponent. The Indian shuttler eventually earned five match points and closed out the contest when Tanaka found the net. Sen, who currently sits 12th in the
Srikanth Suffers Late Collapse
Kidambi Srikanth’s journey in Kumamoto came to an abrupt end in a 22-24, 15-21 defeat to Watanabe. The match began as a tight affair, with both players exchanging leads throughout the first game. Srikanth showed resilience by saving game points, but Watanabe ultimately clinched the opener after a series of high-intensity rallies.
The narrative shifted dramatically in the second game. Srikanth appeared to be in command, racing to a 12-5 lead and maintaining a comfortable cushion until the mid-game interval. However, the momentum swung entirely in favor of the Japanese shuttler as Srikanth’s accuracy faltered. Watanabe capitalized on a string of unforced errors from the Indian, winning 16 of the final 19 points to secure the victory. The loss marks a frustrating conclusion for Srikanth, who had arrived at the quarterfinal stage following an impressive win over world No. 8 Kodai Naraoka on Thursday.
