Denmark Open: Srikanth Falls to Lanier in Second Round

Kidambi Srikanth was knocked out of the Denmark Open in the second round on Thursday, losing 11-21, 21-15, 21-15 to reigning world champion Alex Lanier of France in one hour and six minutes. The defeat ended Srikanth’s campaign after he had made a strong start and won the opening game comfortably.

The former world number one took control early against Lanier, but the French player, ranked world number eight, recovered across the next two games. Srikanth was still in front at 15-13 in the deciding game before Lanier finished with an eight-point run to complete the comeback.

Lanier recovers after Srikanth’s fast start

Srikanth opened the match with an 21-11 game, putting himself in position to progress from the second round. The first-game margin gave the Indian shuttler a clear advantage in the contest, but Lanier responded in the second.

The reigning world champion took the second game 21-15 to level the match and force a decider. Srikanth then regained the lead during the third game, moving ahead 15-13. However, the momentum shifted at that point as Lanier won the final eight points in succession and sealed the match 21-15.

The three-game result brought Srikanth’s Denmark Open appearance to an end and also ended India’s challenge in the men’s events at the tournament. Lakshya Sen and Ayush Shetty had already been eliminated in the opening round, while Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty suffered an early exit in men’s doubles.

Srikanth’s result was particularly notable because he had taken the opening game with room to spare and later held a lead deep into the decider. Lanier’s recovery from one game down, followed by his late run in the third, proved decisive in a match that lasted 66 minutes.

India’s women remain in the Denmark Open

India still has representation in the women’s draw. Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand reached the women’s doubles quarter-finals after beating Indonesia’s fifth-seeded pair of Rachel Allessya Rose and Febi Setianingrum 21-16, 21-17.

Jolly and Gopichand trailed 11-9 in the first game before turning that contest around. They went on to win in straight games and keep their run going in the doubles competition.

In women’s singles, Ashmita Chaliha lost to third seed and three-time world champion Akane Yamaguchi of Japan. Chaliha went down 21-18, 21-10 after a competitive opening game.

Tanvi Sharma is set to play Germany’s Yvonne Li in an effort to keep the Indian women’s singles challenge alive. Li had beaten PV Sindhu in the opening round on Tuesday. Unnati Hooda was also eliminated in the first round on Wednesday.

For Srikanth, the scoreline reflected a match of changing momentum: a dominant opening game, a Lanier response in the second, and a decisive late sequence in the third. Lanier advanced after converting that finish, while Srikanth’s Denmark Open ended in the second round.