The second day of the YONEX US Open 2025 turned out to be a mixed bag for the Indian men’s singles contingent.
While Ayush Shetty and Tharun Mannepalli posted confident wins to progress to the Round of 16, the rest of the Indian shuttlers endured a disappointing outing with four first-round exits, including seeded names Kidambi Srikanth and Priyanshu Rajawat.
Ayush Shetty and Tharun Mannepalli: India’s Saving Grace
Fourth-seeded Ayush Shetty looked assured throughout his straight-games win over Denmark’s Magnus Johannesen, taking the match 21-17, 21-19 in 40 minutes. Despite a late fightback from the Dane in the second game, Ayush kept his cool and closed out the contest with confidence.
Meanwhile, Tharun Mannepalli delivered a gritty comeback performance to oust France’s Arnaud Merkle in one of the matches of the day. After narrowly dropping the opening game 19-21, Tharun regrouped to take the next two games 21-18, 21-18 in a 70-minute battle that showcased his tactical maturity and fitness.
The result sets up a high-stakes all-Indian Round of 16 clash between Ayush and Tharun, guaranteeing India one quarterfinalist in the men’s singles draw.
High-Profile Exits: Srikanth and Priyanshu Crash Out
Former world no. 1 and eighth seed Kidambi Srikanth suffered yet another early-round exit in a season full of inconsistencies. Facing England’s Harry Huang, Srikanth looked set to take control after winning the second game, but faltered late in the decider, going down 19-21, 21-12, 14-21 in 58 minutes. The loss underlines the alarming dip in Srikanth’s ability to close out matches from strong positions.
Priyanshu Rajawat, seeded sixth, was involved in a turbulent three-game encounter against Chinese Taipei’s Ting Yen-Chen. After a flat opening game where he lost 10-21, Priyanshu responded well to take the second 21-12. However, the third game was a collapse, as he went down 7-21, losing the match in 50 minutes. The inconsistency has been a lingering concern in his recent performances and was on full display here.
Rithvik and Sankar Also Fall Short
Rithvik Sanjeevi Satish Kumar, making his BWF Super 300 main draw appearance, faced a tough challenge against France’s Enogat Roy. He was unable to build rhythm or pressure, losing in straight games 18-21, 12-21 in 44 minutes.
S. Sankar Muthusamy Subramanian, a former junior world silver medalist, also fell short against Chinese Taipei’s Liao Jhuo-Fu. After a one-sided first game (13-21), Sankar put up a stronger fight in the second but couldn’t convert crucial points and lost 13-21, 19-21 in 49 minutes.
What This Means for Indian Men’s Singles
The results reinforce a worrisome pattern for Indian men’s singles at the international level. Outside of Lakshya Sen and HS Prannoy, India’s depth has struggled to deliver consistent results at the Super Series and International Challenge levels. This Super 300 tournament presented an opening, especially with top-ranked players skipping the event but most Indian players failed to take advantage.
Four of six Indian men’s singles players exited in the first round, three of them in straight games. The two wins came from players under the age of 21, emphasizing the growing gap between India’s younger prospects and its established names.
All Eyes on Ayush vs Tharun
With the Round of 16 featuring a marquee all-Indian battle between Ayush Shetty and Tharun Mannepalli, the spotlight now shifts to these two rising stars. Both have shown maturity beyond their age and a willingness to grind through matches qualities India’s men’s singles bench desperately needs to nurture.
Whichever way the result swings, India is assured of one quarterfinalist in the men’s singles draw, but the pressure to go deeper and make a statement remains high.
Summary – Indian Men’s Singles at YONEX US Open 2025 (Round of 32)
✅ Advanced to Round of 16
•Ayush Shetty [4] def. Magnus Johannesen (DEN)
Score: 21-17, 21-19 (40 min)
•Tharun Mannepalli def. Arnaud Merkle (FRA)
Score: 19-21, 21-18, 21-18 (70 min)
❌ Eliminated in Round of 32
•Kidambi Srikanth [8] lost to Harry Huang (ENG)
Score: 19-21, 21-12, 14-21 (58 min)
•Priyanshu Rajawat [6] lost to Ting Yen-Chen (TPE)
Score: 10-21, 21-12, 7-21 (50 min)
•Rithvik Sanjeevi Satish Kumar lost to Enogat Roy (FRA)
Score: 18-21, 12-21 (44 min)
•S. Sankar Muthusamy Subramanian lost to Liao Jhuo-Fu (TPE)
Score: 13-21, 19-21 (49 min)
With only Ayush and Tharun left standing, Indian fans will be hoping for a strong finish from at least one of them. The early exits, however, are a sobering reminder that the men’s singles setup needs rebuilding with hunger, match fitness, and belief.
