Australian Open Highlights: HS Prannoy advanced to the final of the Australian Open 2023. The World No.9 sailed past compatriot Priyanshu Rajawat with a dominant 21-18, 21-12 victory in the semifinal of the Super 500 tournament on Saturday, 5th August 2023. Prannoy will next face China’s Weng Hong Yang in the final.
Also Read: Australian Open Highlights: Rajawat & Prannoy enter semis, Srikanth & Sindhu bow out
Making his maiden semifinal appearance in a Super 500 tournament, Orleans Masters champion Rajawat gave a good account of himself as he gave a tough fight to sixth seed Prannoy in the opening game.
Prannoy took a 6-3 lead early in the game. Rajawat soon closed out the deficit and levelled the score 7-7. Prannoy however didn’t let the youngster go ahead of him and raced away to enter the interval with a three-point lead.
Rajawat yet again bounced back after the interval and levelled the score 14-14. Soon neck-to-neck battle ensued between both the players as they took the scores to 18-18. With powerful smashes, Prannoy had two game points and he went on to win the first game.
In the second game too Prannoy took lead early on. However, trailing 3-7, with four straight points, Rajawat levelled the scores. Like the first game, Prannoy ddn’t let his opponent go past him as he took the next four points on the trot and entered the interval with a 11-7 lead.
After the interval, Prannoy went on to dominate the contest. From 13-11, he won the next six successive points. He soon had eight match points and sealed a comprehensive victory to advance to his second final in 2023.
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