Australia Open: After a series of setbacks, Lakshya Sen takes his first title of the year | Badminton News – The Times of India

Indian shuttler Lakshya Sen secured his first title of the 2025 season by beating Japan’s Yushi Tanaka in back-to-back matches 21-15, 21-11 at the Australian Open Super 500 tournament on Sunday. The 24-year-old Commonwealth Games champion took just 38 minutes to complete the $475,000 event, marking his comeback after a challenging period following his fourth-place finish at the Paris Olympics.Sen dominated the final against world number 26 Tanaka, showing superior control and sharp placement throughout the match. He celebrated his victory by sticking his fingers in his ears after the win.“I’ve seen a lot of ups and downs this season, with a few injuries at the start of the season. But I have worked hard all season and I am very happy to end the season on a good note,” said Sen.The 2021 World Championships bronze medalist had last won a Super 300 title at the Syed Modi International in Lucknow in 2024. His previous major victory came at the Canada Open the same year.Sen became the second Indian to win a BWF World Tour title this season, after Ayush Shetty’s maiden Super 300 victory at the US Open.In the first game, Sen took an early 6-3 lead as Tanaka made several mistakes. The Japanese shuttler managed to close the gap to 7-9, but Sen remained in control and had a three-point lead at the mid-match break.“It was important to have a good start and keep the momentum in the last set because it was quite even in the first. I got a good lead and was able to finish it. The second set started well and then I kept the lead to finish the match,” Sen explained.The support from the Indian public was evident with chants of ‘Lakshya! Lakshya’ echoes through the arena during breaks.Sen extended his lead to 17-13 with powerful smashes and cross-court winners. Despite Tanaka’s attempts to remain competitive, two long errors gave Sen five game points, which he immediately converted.The second game proved more one-sided as Sen maintained his intensity with quick, flat returns. Tanaka struggled to match Sen’s strength and consistency and fell behind 8-4.Sen’s excellent judgment of the backline and net play helped him extend the lead to 13-6. Tanaka continued to make mistakes, allowing Sen to build a commanding 17-8 lead.“The moment he knew he could win: In the second set I was in the lead quite far away, but I didn’t want to get into my head too much so I wouldn’t relax too much. In the back of my mind it was there, but I just tried to concentrate on playing one point at a time,” Sen said.“I’m very excited, I’m now looking forward to the next season and I’m very happy with the way I played today and this week,” he added.The win marks a significant achievement for Indian badminton, following other notable achievements this season. Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty reached the finals of the Hong Kong and China Masters, while Kidambi Srikanth finished second at the Malaysia Masters.Tanaka, who had won two Super 300 titles at the Orleans Masters and the 2024 US Open, was overwhelmed by Sen’s superior gameplay throughout the match.In the final moments, Sen scored 10 match points with precise net play. Despite losing one point due to a net error, he sealed the title with a sharp cross-court return, completing his impressive tournament run.