US Open 2023: Lakshya Sen, PV Sindhu storm into pre-quarterfinals

Young Sankar Subramanian Muthusamy also advanced with a major upset win.

India's top seeds, PV Sindhu and Lakshya Sen progressed to the pre-quarterfinals in women's and men's singles respectively at the US Open 2023. Junior World Championships silver medallist Sankar Subramanian created a major upset by defeating WR-32 from Ireland Nhat Nyugen in straight games. This is Sankar's second major victory against top players in the BWF circuit with the other being Indonesia's Tommy Sugiarto.

Other Indians in the fray, Sai Praneeth and Ruthvika Shivani exited from the opening round despite putting up valiant efforts. The former, in particular, played perhaps his best badminton in the past few months stretching the match against number two seed Li Shi Feng to three games.

The Tokyo Olympic and 2019 Worlds bronze medallist won the opening game but couldn't hold onto the momentum in the second. Last week's runner up at the Canada Open, Li Shi Feng caught up pace at the crunch situation to surge ahead and ultimately won the tie 16-21, 21-14, 21-19 and progressed to the R16.

Sankar Subramanian, 19, who is known for his defensive and retrieving skills, started to attack against Nhat Nyugen taking the opponent by surprise. The additional attacking skill has helped Sankar improve from his previous matches. He will now be up against European Games silver medallist Misha Zilberman for a place in the US Open 2023 quarter-finals.

Two-time Olympic medalist PV Sindhu and Commonwealth Games 2022 champion Lakshya Sen sailed through to the next round comfortably. Lakshya Sen will be up against Jen Louda of Czech Republic and this will be their first meeting while on the other hand PV Sindhu will take on Sung Suo Yun of Chinese Taipei.

India's performance on Day 2 of US Open 2023

Men's Singles Round of 32

Sai Praneeth lost to Li Shi Feng (21-16, 14-21, 19-21)

Sankar Muthusamy beat Nhat Nguyen (21-11, 21-16)

Lakshya Sen beat Kalle Koljonen (21-8, 21-16)

Women's Singles Round of 32

PV Sindhu beat Disha Gupta (21-15, 21-10)

Gadde Ruthvika Shivani lost to Lin Hsiang Ti (14-21, 11-21)