Lakshya Sen, Tharun Mannepalli Bow Out In Macau Open Semifinals
The 23-year-old Mannepalli, ranked 47th in the world, squandered a strong start to lose 21-19 16-21 16-21 in a match marked by fluctuating momentum and a flurry of unforced errors.
Lakshya vs Farhan
It has been a tough season for world number 17 Lakshya, who has had seven first-round exits and two second-round ousters this season. The 23-year-old, who has been affected by shoulder, back and ankle issues this season, had entered the tournament to gain some confidence before heading to the World Championships in Paris.
However, it was Farhan, the 2023 World Junior Champion and a member of Indonesia's bronze-medal-winning Sudirman Cup squad, who produced a dominating performance to knock him out of the tournament.
World number 25 Farhan recovered from a 0-3 start to lead 11-7 at the first break in the opening game. He dictated the pace of rallies with precise drops and powerful smashes, catching the Indian off-guard on multiple occasions.
Though Lakshya produced some eye-catching strokes, he lacked consistency, often erring in execution at crucial moments. A backhand winner brought him to 13-19, but a serve into the net handed Farhan five game points, and the Indonesian converted when Lakshya sent one long.
The second game followed a similar pattern. With Farhan leading 5-4, a 38-shot rally ended with a sharp cross smash from the Indonesian, who then extended his lead to 11-5 at the interval. Lakshya looked tentative and was unable to counter Farhan's relentless pressure at the net and forecourt.
Farhan raced to a 14-6 lead with another cross-court smash. Lakshya sent one wide and then found the net, allowing Farhan to grab 12 match points. The Indonesian missed one before sealing the match on the next opportunity.
Mannepalli vs Justin
Mannepalli started well, racing to an 11-6 lead in the opener. A pair of wide returns helped him build a 17-12 cushion before Justin clawed back to level at 18-all. After wasting one game point, Mannepalli closed it with a straight return.
In the second game, Justin led 8-6 after capitalising on Mannepalli's errors. Though the Indian levelled at 13-13, a run of mistakes gave Justin a 17-14 lead and eventually the game.
In the decider, Mannepalli again held a 6-3 lead before Justin turned the tables. The Indian reduced the deficit to 13-16 but faltered under pressure, and a clever drop from the Malaysian sealed the match.
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