Japan Open 2023 HIGHLIGHTS: Lakshya Sen loses a three-setter to Jonatan Christie in semifinal
Catch highlights of the Japan Open Super 750 semifinal between Lakshya Sen and Jonatan Christie.
Lakshya Sen is chasing his second BWF World Tour title in 2023. (Photo credit: BAI)
Lakshya Sen went down fighting to world no. 9 Jonatan Christie in the semifinal of the Japan Open Super 750 at the Yoyogi National Gymnasium, Tokyo, on Saturday.
Christie, the Indonesia Masters winner, won the match 21-15, 13-21, 21-16. He will face the winner of the second semifinal between Viktor Axelsen and Kodai Naraoka in the summit clash.
This was Lakshya's second straight defeat to Christie in 2023. He also lost to him in the quarterfinals of the Indonesia Masters.
With Lakshya's departure, India's campaign at the Japan Open 2023 ended.
On Friday, HS Prannoy in men's singles and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy-Chirag Shetty in doubles lost their respective quarterfinal matches on Friday.
Christie beats Lakshya to reach the final. Lakshya sends a crosscourt return, a toss. Christie wastes no time to send down a smash. Lakshya's return hits the net. Christie wins the game and the match 21-15, 13-21, 21-16.
Well poised rally between Lakshya and Christie. And Lakshya's shot goes wide, and Christie now has 20-15 lead.
No, Lakshya saves the first match point. He makes it 16-20.
Lakshya wins a point and make it 15-18.
But Christie is unscathed and extends the lead to 19-15 with a smash.
Christie sends the shuttle wide, and Lakshya wins back-to-back points. It is 14-17 now.
Christie manages to extend the lead. Lakshya's challenge goes unsuccessfully, Christie leads 18-14.
A crosscourt smash from Lakshya. Christie cannot go close to it. It is 13-17. Lakshya is still trailing by four points into decider.
Christie is winning points rapidly. He sends a flat return, Lakshya attempts a return, and it finds the net. Christie takes five points lead. It is 17-12.
Lakshya shows better judgement and wins a point.
But Christie continues to extend the lead. He makes 15-11 now.
Lakshya needs to ramp up his game to get a better result in this match.
Christie wins two back-to-back points to take 11-7 lead at the interval.
After a longer rally, Lakshya wins a point to make it 7-9. Christie tosses it, and Lakshya sends a smash. Christie returns it on the first attempt, but Lakshya sends down a harder smash. This time no answer.
A good rally between Lakshya and Christie, and the Indonesian fetches another point. Lakshya's shot goes wide. It is 8-6 for Christie.
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