Srikanth stays in cruise mode
Jakarta winner ousts countryman for place in semis; Saina, Sindhu crash out
Sydney, June 23: Indonesia Super Series winner Kidambi Srikanth continued his rampaging run to advance to the men’s singles semi-finals but it was curtains for P.V. Sindhu and Saina Nehwal at the Australian Super Series here on Friday.
In an all-Indian quarter-final between Srikanth and B. Sai Praneeth, it was the former who came out on top with a fighting 25-23, 21-17 win in a 43minute clash at the Sydney Olympic Park.
It was the second time that the two Indians were facing off after the Singapore Open final where Praneeth had the last laugh.
Srikanth, who edged out world no. 1 Son Wan Ho in the semi-final en route to his title triumph at Indonesia last week, will face fourth seed and All England finalist Shi Yuqi of China in the semis.
World no. 11 Srikanth had beaten Shi, winner of the 2016 French Super Series, at the Singapore Open this year.
However, disappointment was in store for India in the women’s singles as Rio Olympics silver medallist Sindhu and defending champion Saina lost out.
Sindhu failed to get the better of world no. 1 and top seed Tai Tzu Ying of Chinese Taipei for the seventh time in her career, while Saina fought for an hour and 19 minutes before losing to last year’s finalist Sun Yu.
Sindhu squandered a onegame edge to go down 21-10, 2022, 16-21 in a contest that lasted exactly an hour, while Saina lost 17-21, 21-10, 17-21 to Sun.
Earlier, in a match between two friends, it was Praneeth who took the early lead, moving to a 4-1 advantage and despite Srikanth grabbing a slender 1110 lead at the break, the Thailand Open champion once again moved to a 16-13 lead.
Srikanth then reeled off five straight points to go up 20-17. Praneeth grabbed four straight points but the 2014 India Open champion ensured he had the last laugh.
In the second game, Praneeth again had a 4-1 lead but
It’s going great so far, I just want to play well. I missed six-seven tournaments last year, I just want to play as many games as possible.
— KIDAMBI SRIKANTH
Srikanth once again surpassed him to grab a 11-9 advantage. Praneeth narrowed the gap to 12-13, before Srikanth sealed the match.
“The first game was very close, I lost four game points. That’s been the pattern every time I’ve lost to top players, I’ve missed my opportunities,” said Srikanth.
“I have to avoid that. We know each other’s game pretty well. You just have to be patient. He’s a tricky player, he has variety. You have to be steady and take those special shots and retrieve them.”
Talking about his fine run of form, the Indian, who entered his third straight Super Series semi-final, said: “It’s going great so far, not really thinking too much. I just want to play well, because I missed six-seven tournaments last year, I just want to play as many games as possible.”
In the women’s singles, Sindhu dished out a brilliant show in the first game after initially fighting to a 8-7 lead. She moved to 13-7, before producing a seven-point blast to seal the game.
In the second game, Sindhu once again had a 11-8 lead but Tai grabbed the advantage at 16-13. The Indian erased the deficit to held the match point at 20-19 but the Chinese Taipei shuttler sealed it with two good points.
In the decider, Sindhu squandered a 8-4 and 14-10 lead to eventually go down to the world no. 1.
The top seed will face Japanese third seed Akane Yamaguchi, who powered past China's Chen Yufei, 21-15, 21-14.
Japan’s Nozomi Okuhara also made it to the last four following a 21-12, 23-21 victory over compatriot Sayaka Takahashi.