Lakshya Sen wins the Singles Title in Sydney, producing one of his most composed performances of the season to clinch the BWF Australian Open Super 500 men’s singles title on Sunday.
The 24-year-old Indian defeated Japan’s Yushi Tanaka 21–15, 21–11 in just 38 minutes, sealing his first title of 2025 and his first overseas crown since the Canada Open in 2023.
For a player who has spent much of the year battling inconsistency, injury niggles, and difficult early-round exits, this triumph could not have come at a more significant time. With one polished performance after another through the week, culminating in a clinical display in the final, Lakshya reminded the badminton world of his quality and competitive instinct.
A Confident Start Sets the Tone
In their first-ever meeting on the BWF Tour, Lakshya arrived as the favourite against world No. 26 Yushi Tanaka. But Tanaka had been one of the revelations of the tournament he had stunned top seed Jonatan Christie in the opening round, followed it up by beating fifth seed Lin Chun-Yi, and had not dropped a game all week. He had also defeated Li Shi Feng at the World Championships earlier in the year, making him a dangerous opponent.
However, once the final began, Lakshya wasted no time asserting control. After a sharp exchange to begin the contest, the Indian began to dictate terms with his defence, depth, and change of pace. Tanaka’s aggressive style thrives on rushing opponents into errors, but Lakshya refused to give him the pace he wanted. By 7–3, Lakshya had already opened up an early four-point cushion, leaning on his solid defensive base and forcing Tanaka into uncomfortable positions.
Tanaka fought back with a strong counterattack phase, reducing the deficit to 10–7 and then 11–8 at the mid-game interval, but the Japanese was already showing signs of impatience. Lakshya’s length, angles, and subtle variations extended rallies, and Tanaka’s errors began to creep in.
Lakshya’s Control, Tanaka’s Frustration
At 13–12, a tense phase unfolded, with Tanaka going for the lines and Lakshya responding patiently. A long rally ended with Tanaka pushing the shuttle long a microcosm of the match. Lakshya’s defence was rock solid, and his willingness to extend rallies forced Tanaka out of rhythm.
Lakshya’s reading of the game was crucial. When the pace needed changing, he changed it. When Tanaka wanted a quick exchange, Lakshya absorbed it and turned it into a longer rally. When Tanaka tried deception, Lakshya countered with sharp touches at the net or mid-court interceptions.
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The turning point came at 17–14 when Lakshya unleashed a blistering mid-court winner, followed by a delicate net touch. With errors piling up from the other side, Lakshya surged ahead to take the opening game 21–15, sealing it on his very first game point after Tanaka drove into the net.
Second Game: Lakshya Shuts the Door
If the first game showed measured control, the second game displayed dominance.
Lakshya started with a down-the-line smash that signalled his growing confidence. At 5–2, he had already built momentum, and by 8–4, Tanaka was visibly frustrated. His shots were increasingly rushed, and he began going for too much. Two consecutive mistakes gave Lakshya an 11–5 lead at the interval, and from there, the match quickly slipped away from the Japanese shuttler.
Tanaka briefly narrowed the gap to 13–7 with a sharp net touch, but Lakshya responded with a pair of punishing smashes and a crisp drive to stretch the lead to 19–8. Tanaka, now desperate, missed lengths, mishit a few drives, and failed to keep his net game tight errors Lakshya clinically exploited. At 20–10, Lakshya held a massive 10 championship points. A forehand winner sealed the deal, giving the Indian a decisive 21–11 result in the second game and the championship.
Consistency, Control, and Composure: A Much-Needed Boost
Lakshya’s win carries significance far beyond the trophy. For months, the Indian had flirted with form, producing flashes of brilliance but lacking sustained momentum. This week, however, he stitched together a run of controlled, high-quality performances.
His path to the title:
- Round of 32: bt. L.Y. Su 21–17, 21–13
- Round of 16: bt. Yu Chi 21–17, 21–13
- Quarterfinal: bt. Anupama Shetty 23–21, 21–11
- Semifinal: bt. Chou Tien-Chen 17–21, 24–22, 21–16
- Final: bt. Yushi Tanaka 21–15, 21–11
The semifinal win over Chou Tien-Chen—an 80-minute grind where he saved match points—showed his fighting spirit. The final, however, showcased his maturity: clean, composed, and tactically flawless.
A Title After a Tough Year
This Australian Open Super 500 crown is Lakshya Sen’s third Super 500 title, after the India Open 2022 and Canada Open 2023. It marks an important resurgence in a season where results had been turbulent.
What stood out most in Sydney was Lakshya’s mental clarity. He didn’t chase points; he constructed them. He didn’t get sucked into the pace Tanaka wanted; he dictated his own. And he didn’t let the pressure of a final affect him—his shot selection remained disciplined, his body language calm.
With the 2026 season approaching and Olympic qualification cycles tightening again, this win provides a crucial ranking boost and, more importantly, restores belief. Lakshya’s world ranking of No. 14 will likely improve to 10-11, and the confidence gained from this week could be transformative.
Equally important is the experience: a deep semifinal battle followed by a composed final is the combination every player hopes for before entering the next phase of the BWF calendar. If Lakshya can carry forward this tactical clarity and physical sharpness, he could quickly re-establish himself among the top contenders in major events. The signs from Sydney suggest that his best is returning and that Indian badminton may once again have a dynamic force climbing toward the world’s elite bracket.
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Lakshya Sen’s triumph at the Australian Open Super 500 is more than just another title—it’s a statement. A reminder of his talent, his resilience, and his ability to rise when it matters. For a player still shaping his peak years, this could be the spark that reignites a push toward the very top of men’s singles badminton.
In Sydney, he didn’t just win a final; he rediscovered his rhythm, reasserted his presence on the circuit, and closed the year with the clarity and confidence that every athlete chases.
A perfect finish to a challenging year and, perhaps, the perfect beginning of a new chapter.
