Lakshya’s semifinal loss ends India’s campaign at Japan Open
Lakshya made a bright start, racing to an 8-3 lead in the opening game. But Nishimoto wrested back control with a burst of seven straight points, using sharp, angled smashes to push ahead.
Lakshya made a bright start, racing to an 8-3 lead in the opening game. But Nishimoto wrested back control with a burst of seven straight points, using sharp, angled smashes to push ahead.
World No. 18 Lakshya's inconsistent run resulted in a 19-21, 11-21 loss to Japan's Kodai Naraoka in the men's singles that lasted close to an hour.
Lakshya ,who won the Canada Open Super 500 earlier this month, jumped out to a 5-3 lead early on before closing to 11-7 at the break.
China's badminton players on Wednesday scored victories to make the second round in several categories here at the Japan Open badminton tournament.
Former world champion Sindhu, lost to China’s Zhang Yi Man 21-12, 21-13 to make her seventh opening round exit in 13 BWF World Tour tournaments this year.
Djokovic, who started the week by taking part in a doubles game, intensified his performance as the week progressed, never allowing his opponents, including world number 15 David Goffin, to pose serious threats.
Sindhu lost to Yamaguchi 18-21 15-21 in a 50-minute women's singles quarterfinal match. This was Sindhu's second defeat at the hands of Yamaguchi.
In the Japan Open tournament, Sindhu has never been beaten by Aya Ohori and has emerged victorious on all the eight occasions.
Sindhu needed just 37 minutes to ease past her opponent 21-9, 21-17 in her first match of the tournament. She will now have to face Japan's Aya Ohori whom she met recently in the Indonesia Open.
Frances Tiafoe restored some pride for the United States by beating Germany's Maximilian Marterer 7-5, 6-4.
