Denmark Open 2020: Srikanth storms into the quarterfinals, Lakshya goes down fighting


Denmark Open 2020: Srikanth storms into the quarterfinals, Lakshya goes down fighting

Image Source: Twitter | Kidambi Srikanth will face Chou Tien Chen in the quarterfinals of the Denmark Open 2020

Srikanth Kidambi Denmark OPen
(Image Credits: Twitter) Srikanth Kidambi in action at Denmark Open 2020

It was a mixed day for India at Odense. India’s star men’s singles player Kidambi Srikanth won his Round of 16 encounter against Jason Anthony of Canada. He plays the quarterfinals on 16th October 2020 against Chou Tien Chen. Star youngster could not cross the round two hurdle of Has Vittinghus.

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It was the first meeting between the 5th seeded Indian and the world number 49. Srikanth started off well and took an 8-4 lead. He kept up his attack went off into the mid game interval with a 3 point advantage. The Indian managed to keep up his momentum and took a huge lead at 15-9. There was a little slack form Kidambi and Jason played a couple of good shots picking up points. However Srikanth prevailed and won the game 21-15.

The second game went neck-to-neck in the first half, but Srikanth managed to edge past with a three point lead. He kept up his pace and went ahead to 15-11. At that point the longest rally of the match was played. It lasted 34 shots. Srikanth won it and it really boosted his confidence. In no time Srikanth just stormed to match point opportunities, having 8 of them. At match point opportunities, Srikanth committed few errors and gave away two of them. He converted the third point and sealed the match in his favour 21-15, 21-14

In the quarterfinals of the Denmark Open 2020, Kidambi Srikanth will now face Second seed Chou Tien Chen of Taipei. Chou leads the head to head 5-1. The last encounter between them was at the Malaysia Masters 2020 which Chou won 17-21 5-21. The only match Srikanth won against chou was their first encounter in 2014. Thus it will be an interesting match and challenging for Srikanth. This is a crucial match for Srikanth. If he manages to over come the Taiwanese, his chances of winning the title increases manifold.

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Also Read: Denmark Open 2020: Lakshya Sen to play against Vittinghus in R2

Lakshya Sen went down fighting Hans Kristian Vittinghus

Lakshya Sen
Lakshya Sen | Credits: Mid day

Lakshya Sen started off brilliantly in the first game. He played level with the experienced Dane. The first half went close. The score was 13-11 with Lakshya trailing when things started turning around. At 14-12 with Lakshya trailing, he played a really good rally with precisely placed push from the net to the Dane’s forehand rear corner. Lakshya got back on level with Vittinghus and took the lead from then. Hans seemed disturbed, probably due to nerves setting in. Several errors came from Hans Kristian, and Lakshya Sen capitalised on that and took away the first game 21-15.

It was a complete turn around in the second game. Vittinghus seemed to have regained composure and rhythm and Lakshya looked totally off rhythm. Too many errors came form the young Indian. H.K Vittinghus led at the mid game interval 11-1. Sen had no answers to the experienced Dane and struggled to control the shuttle. Hans Kristian won the second game 21-7 without breaking much sweat.

The third set started off with Vittinghus taking a 4-0 lead. Lakshya came up with some well constructed rallies that fetched him a few points getting the score at 3-7 with him trailing. The intensity of the game increased with both players putting pressure eon each other and the scores started getting closer. Lakshya seemed to have regained rhythm and better control of the shuttle. He made fewer errors and built rallies with good shot selection and attacking the gaps. The Dane had a marginal advantage at the mid game interval. The game continued to go neck to neck Vittinghus leading 17-15. At this crucial juncture to break into lead, Vittinghus gave a way a point to Lakshya with a tight smash not crossing the net. What followed was long rally. Lakshya Sen’s body language post the rally displayed signs of fatigue already, score being 18-16, Lakshya trailing. He managed to pick up a point with a briliant cross court samsh, making the score 19-17. An unforcedd error from Lakshya on a clear, gave 3 match point oppoortunies to the Dane. Lakshya retuenrd the serve with a smash into the net and Vittinghus sailed into the quater finals. It was a brave fight from the young Indian against the 34 year old Danish player. The lad surely has had a greta experience and key takeaways from his experience at Denmark Open 2020.

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The major upset

The young Danish Pair of Joel Eipe and Rasmus Kjaer ranked 125 beta the forth seeded compatriots Kim Astrup and Anders Rasmussen who were the home favourites for the men’s doubles title.

Other notable results

  • Nozomi Okuhara beat Jordan Hart 21-6 21-12
  • Gabriela and Stefani Stoeva beat Alexandra Boje and Mette Poulsen 21-7, 21-9
  • Yuki Fukushima and Sayaka Hirota beat Linda Efler and Isabel Herttrich 21-12, 21-13

Quarter Final matches to watch out for

  • Kidambi Srikanth vs Chou Tien Chen
  • Jan O Jorgensen vs Anders Antonsen (likely)
  • Kenta Nishimoto vs Hans Vittinghus
  • Mia Blichfeldt vs Michelle Li
  • Yuki Fukushima/Sayaka Hirota vs Chloe Birch/Lauren Smith
  • Maiken Freurgaard/Sara Thygesen vs Mayu Matsumoto /Wakana Nagahara
  • Christo Popov/Toma Popov vs Marcus Ellis/Chris Langridge