In a triumphant return to form, India’s Lakshya Sen claimed the 2025 Australian Open Super 500 title in Sydney, defeating Japan’s Yushi Tanaka in straight games, 21-15, 21-11. This emphatic victory marked Sen’s first title of the year and his third career Super 500 crown, bringing a rewarding end to his international season. Ranked World No. 14, Sen dominated the final with clinical precision and steady nerves, closing out the match in just 38 minutes. The win is particularly significant after a year of near-misses and hard-fought performances, including a runner-up finish at the Hong Kong Open earlier in 2025.
The Road to the Title
- Sen had to dig deep earlier in the tournament, especially in the quarterfinal and semifinal rounds, where he defeated fellow Indian Ayush Shetty and Taiwan’s Chou Tien Chen, respectively, in grueling matches that tested his stamina and shot selection.
- In contrast, the final proved to be a far smoother affair.
- His opponent, Yushi Tanaka, known as a “domestic giant” in Japan, struggled with accuracy, unforced errors, and lacked the consistency that Sen capitalised on.
- Sen’s tactical simplicity, clean execution, and calm demeanor under pressure allowed him to maintain control throughout the match, rarely allowing Tanaka to build momentum.
Match Highlights
- Duration: 38 minutes
- Final Score: 21-15, 21-11
- Sen led the match from start to finish, with Tanaka only briefly closing the gap to 15-13 in the first game.
- At 17-15, Tanaka showed brief resilience, but a series of errors—especially on drop shots—handed the game and title to Sen.
- Sen’s composed performance, avoiding flamboyant shots, stood in contrast to Tanaka’s risk-laden approach that failed to deliver.
After the win, Sen made a symbolic gesture of closing out the noise with his fingers in his ears—an expression of focus and perseverance after months of training, setbacks, and recovery since his Paris Olympics disappointment in 2024.
What the Win Means for Lakshya Sen
- Though the Australian Open win came too late for qualification to the 2025 BWF World Tour Finals, it provides a massive morale boost and reasserts Sen’s presence in elite men’s singles badminton.
- The title also helps Sen maintain and possibly improve his world ranking, keeping him in contention for top tournament seedings and selection for major international events in 2026, including the Thomas Cup and Asian Games qualifiers.
- This victory signals a successful end to Sen’s 2025 campaign and sets the tone for a strong comeback season.
Takeaways
- Lakshya Sen won the 2025 Australian Open Super 500 in Sydney, beating Yushi Tanaka (Japan) 21-15, 21-11.
- This was Sen’s third Super 500 title and first tournament victory of the year.
- The final lasted 38 minutes, with Sen dominating from the start.
- Despite missing out on the World Tour Finals, Sen ends the season with a title and ranking boost.