The mastery of Srikanth on court

Kidambi Srikanth defeated Japan’s Kenta Nishimoto in straight games to win the men’s singles title at the French Open Super Series in Paris on Sunday. Let’s revisit the heroics of the first Indian male shuttler who qualified for the final of the grand event.

Photo: AFP

Srikanth carved out a 21-14, 21-13 win against Japan’s Kenta Nishimoto in 34 minutes to clinch the French Open Super Series. The eighth seeded Indian has now improved his head-to-head statistics against the unseeded Japanese to 2-0.

Photo: AFP

In the French Open summit clash, Kidambi Srikanth struggled with Nishimoto taking a 9-5 lead, but he staged a comeback to force the lead at 11-9; he didn’t have to look back from there. Earlier, in an all-India men's semifinal, Srikanth crawled from a game down to beat H.S. Prannoy 14-21, 21-19, 21-18.

Photo: AFP

It wasn’t difficult for the in-form Srikanth to pip the 40th-ranked Japanese player Nishimoto, but it is also to be noted that the Japanese fought his way to the final. He had shot to fame in 2013, when he reached the final round of the men’s singles event at the Russia Open Grand Prix tournament. He lost the final to Vladimir Ivanov of Russia.

Photo: AFP

Srikanth and second-placed Japan's Nishimoto (L) pose with their trophies on the podium after the final. The Indian shuttler clinched titles at Indonesia, Australia and Denmark earlier this year. The French Open is the fourth jewel in his kitty.

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Srikanth carved out a 21-14, 21-13 win against Japan’s Kenta Nishimoto in 34 minutes to clinch the French Open Super Series. The eighth seeded Indian has now improved his head-to-head statistics against the unseeded Japanese to 2-0.