Dubai: World no. 3 PV Sindhu cruised into the semi-finals with another comfortable win but Kidambi Srikanth crushed out after slumping to a second consecutive loss at the USD $1 million Dubai Super Series Finals on Thursday. Both though has still one more match to play, but a win will not be sufficient for the Denmark Open champion to make it to the knock-out stage.
Facing the Japanese Sayaka Sato, it took just 36 minutes for the Rio Olympics silver medalist to cap off a 21-13, 21-12 straight sets win and enter the semi-finals. It was however the end for Srikanth, who lost 18-21, 18-21 against Chinese Taipei’s Chou Tien Chen in another frustrating match that lasted just 43 minutes.
Having suffered a defeat against world champion Viktor Axelsen in his opening encounter, Srikanth failed once again to replicate his performance this season that saw home reach five Super Series Finals, winning four and becoming the first Indian in the process to do so. He will next face All England Open finalist Shi Yuqi of China, who has ready sealed a berth in the semi-finals after securing two wins over Axelsen and Chou Tien Chen.
Meanwhile Sindhu who had already defeated Sato twice this season, once again reigned supreme on Thursday. The match nonetheless started on a brisk note with both standing at 3-3 at the start of the first set. But the Indian soon surged forward with a brilliant display, stopping at nothing to comfortably win the first set.
The second game was no different with the 22-year-old completely outplaying Sato win the match 21-13, 21-12 in straight sets.
Srikanth however lacked the general vibe in his game and was sluggish in his movements in the court. By the time he earned his first point in game, Chou Tien Chen was already five points ahead and all the Indian could do was play the catching game throughout before losing 18-21 in the first set.
He though looked to have improved his game in the second set, but was not consistent enough. He had the chance to seal the set and take it to a decider standing at 17-14 at one stage, but allowed Chou Tien to bounce back and make it 17-17. It was always going to be difficult for the Indian to win from there and as it had been in the previous match, the Chinese gained all three points from 18-18, to seal the match in his favour inflicting a straight set defeat on Srikanth.