Indonesia Open Highlights: India’s Men’s Doubles pair Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty have advanced to their maiden Super 1000 tournament final. The seventh seeds defeated South Korea’s Kang Min Hyuk and Seo Seung Jae 17-21, 21-19, 21-18 in the semifinal at the Indonesia Open on Saturday, 17th June 2023. HS Prannoy’s campaign in the tournament meanwhile has come to an end. The seventh seeded Indian suffered 15-21, 15-21 defeat against Viktor Axelsen.
Also Read: Indonesia Open Highlights: HS Prannoy & Chirag-Satwik duo enter semifinal
Men’s Singles
HS Prannoy LOST TO Viktor Axelsen – 15-21, 15-21
Men’s Doubles
Satwiksairaj Rankireddy/Chirag Shetty BEAT Kang Min Hyuk/Seo Seung Jae – 17-21, 21-19, 21-18
HS Prannoy vs Viktor Axelsen
Prannoy played the catch up game from the onset. He showed sparks in between riding on his cross court smashes but Axelsen’s drop shots and court coverage was good enough to help him take the lead.
The script unfolded in the same manner in the next game as Axelsen continued to maintain his upperhand and pocket the game and match in identical manner. It was Prannoy’s sixth loss against the Dane in the international circuit as against two wins.
Satwiksairaj Rankireddy/Chirag Shetty vs Kang Min Hyuk/Seo Seung Jae
The men’s doubles began on an even keel before the Korean pair surged ahead to 6-3. Once they conceded the lead, Satwik and Chirag were forced to play a catch-up game.
The Indians used their aggressive play to reduce the margin to 15-19 and then 17-20 before Kang and Seo kept their composure to pocket the first game, courtesy an unforced error.
The Indians looked more purposeful after the change of ends and took an early 6-3 lead before racing to 11-4 with a flurry of fast paced shots and body smashes in the second game.
Satwik and Chirag were also helped by some bad line calls and unforced errors from the Koreans. But Kang and Seo didn’t give up and clawed their way back in the game to reduce the gap to 18-15.
But the Indians managed to hold on to their nerves and played sensibly to pocket the second game and level the scores. The decider went neck and neck till the first five points before Satwik and Chirag pocketed seven straight points to race to 12-5 lead.
The Koreans tried hard to bounce back and at one time levelled the scores at 16-16 but that is when Satwik and Chirag stepped it up and closed out the game and the match.
Indonesia Open LIVE: HS Prannoy faces Viktor Axelsen in semifinal, Satwik-Chirag eye spot in final
