Swiss Open 2021: Satwik/Chirag prevail in a thrilling three-setter

Swiss Open 2021: Satwik/Chirag prevail in a thrilling three-setter

Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty

Satwiksairaj Rankireddy-Chirag Shetty
Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty into the semi-final of Swiss Open

The world number 10 in men’s doubles from India the young pair of Satwik and Chirag made their way to the quarterfinals at the Yonex Swiss Open 2021. On the way to the last eight, the pair beat the Grimley twins and then Pramudya and Yeremia of Indonesia. In the quarterfinal clash, they faced the fifth seed from Malaysia, Ong Yew Sin and Teo Ee Yi.

With Danish legend Mathias Boe as a coach on their bench, the expectations from the young duo were high.

Ong and Teo shot off to a 7-2 lead at the beginning of the match with their attack being converted to points, tapping into the defense of the Indian duo. They soon went into the mid-game break 11-5.

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Errors came in from Chirag and Satwik, while the Malaysian exploited it and kept up their attack relentlessly going to a 16-9 lead. The first game was all attack from Malaysians as they won it 21-12 in just 13 minutes.

Gritty comeback in game 2

Satwik and Chirag put in efforts to get into the grove to fight back against the Malaysians. They kept up the pace as they went neck-to-neck. Sin and Yi however kept up their edge as they went off to break 11-8 with a three-point lead.

The Indian duo came back level at 12-12. The young world number 10’s defenses fell weak against the hard-hitting Yi and Sin. Despite Reddy and Shetty’s attempts to keep up the pace, the Malaysians always kept themselves a step ahead. At 17-17, Satwik’s attempt at a flick serve went long, giving Yi and Sin the lead again. In a turnaround of events, errors came in from the Malaysian in haste to attack giving 2 match point opportunities to Satwik and Chirag. One was saved as the lift went long from the Indians. They converted the very next point with accurate placement of their smashes taking the game 21-19.

A commanding third game, culminating with a win

The third game began being closely contested with scores being 5-5. The Indian duo did attack better and went into a lead in the mid-game interval. They kept up their pace and attack as they took up a 13-9 lead. It was probably even nerves that took on the Malaysians as they started making errors as Chirag and Satwik increased the pressure with their powerful attack. In no time the scoreboard read 20-12 with 8 match point opportunities for the Indians, the match being converted in the very first one.

Satwik and Chirag, the second seed sailed into the semi-finals 12-21, 21-19, 21-12 in 55 minutes.

Also Read: Swiss Open 2021: PV Sindhu storms into the semi-finals