Japan Open 2023 HIGHLIGHTS: Prannoy and Satwik-Chirag knocked out in quarters; Lakshya reaches semis
Catch all the highlights of the Japan Open 2023 quarterfinals.
HS Prannoy, ranked tenth, is India's top-ranked men's singles player. (Photo credit: Badminton Photo/BAI)
HS Prannoy - the world no. 10 and India's highest-ranked men's singles player - conceded his lead to lose his quarterfinal match against world no. 1 Viktor Axelsen 21-19, 18-21, 8-21. The match lasted for an hour and 16 minutes. Axelsen will face Kodai Naraoka of Japan in the semifinals.
Earlier today, world no. 2 men's doubles pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, who were chasing their third consecutive BWF World Tour title at the Japan Open Super 750, lost a gruelling three-setter against Olympic champions Lee Yang and Wang Chin-Lin of Chinese Taipei in the quarterfinals. The final result was 21-15, 23-25, 21-16 in Lee and Wang's favour.
Lakshya Sen, however, has had an easy outing against Koki Watanabe of Japan as he won his quarterfinal match in straight games (21-15, 21-19).
Prannoy's return finds the net as Axelsen wins the third game 21-8. The Dane wins the match 19-21, 21-18, 21-8 coming from behind. He will face Kodai Naraoka of Japan in the semis.
Hard luck for Prannoy, he completely catches Axelsen off the guard but his shot lands outside of the court, giving Axelsen a match point opportunity. Axelsen leads 19-8.
Point for Prannoy. He goes hard. Axelsen tries to return the smash, but it goes wide. It is 7-17 now.
But no respite for the Indian. Axelsen earns two more points. A flat smash and a net flick. He leads 18-7 in the decider.
Axelsen makes it 16-6, taking a massive nine-point lead. He draws two points from superb net play.
Prannoy wins the rally. 6-13 now. Crisscrossing exchanges by both players. Prannoy wins a point by a flat flick in the far corner of Axelsen's right court. The Dane stretches but in vain.
Axelsen marches to an 11-5 lead at the interval. He is moving swiftly now. A big match player. He was looking frustrated in the second game. He transformed himself quickly.
Prannoy concedes a point. Axelsen is controlling the rally and winning points from it. Prannoy has a chance to reduce Axelsen's lead, but he hits the net in haste.
Two fine points for Axelsen. He is now controlling the game. A point at the net then, a point from a smash now. Axelsen takes 8-5 in the decider.
Crosscourt smash from Prannoy, Axelsen cannot return it. The Indian earns a 2-1 lead in the decider.
Prannoy takes a point with a smash. Axelsen follows it with a flat smash after both players share a flurry of exchanges.
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