All England Open 2024: Lakshya Sen bows out after semi-final loss to Jonatan Christie

Lakshya Sen went down in three games after fighting back from a game down.

India’s Lakshya Sen bowed out from the semi-final stage of the All England Open 2024 after losing against Indonesia’s Jonatan Christie in three games. His exit also ended India’s challenge in the BWF Super 1000 tournament. Sen, who finished as runners-up here in 2022, went down 12-21, 21-10, 15-21 in 68 minutes.

It though seemed 68 minutes too many for Sen, who looked absolutely knackered towards the end having had to play three-setters in each of his last three rounds. He entered the semi-final after seeing past former world champion Loh Kean Yew and 2021 All England Open winner Lee Zii Jia of Malaysia. In contrast, Jonatan Christie was handed a walkover by Shi Yu Qi after just one game in the quarterfinals.

Heartbreak or Lakshya Sen!! 💔India's 🇮🇳 Sen goes down to WR-9 Jonatan Christie in the semifinals of #AllEnglandOpen2024 having fought back from a game down to force the decider. 🏸Score — 12-21, 21-10, 15-21!#AllEngland2024 #AllEnglandSuper1000 pic.twitter.com/cLO8FKa5wG

— Khel Now (@KhelNow) March 16, 2024

Sen, who also made the semis at the French Open 2024 last week, started slow against the Indonesian who held a four-point lead at the mid-game interval on the opening game. He increased that gap to seven points at 17-10 and eventually sealed the game at 21-12.

But Sen made a roaring comeback in the second. From a 7-3 lead, he won six straight points to go to 13-3 and with Christie making a series of unforced errors that lead increased to 18-6. The Indonesian found some touch and reduced the deficit to nine points, but Sen soon restored the 10-point gap and then sealed the second game with a smash to force a decider.

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Sen maintained his momentum in the deciding game and was leading 3-0 at the start. But Jonatan Christie kept himself in the game first by levelling at 3-3 and moving ahead from 4-6 behind to a three-point lead at the mid-game interval. By this time Sen was already exhausted and looked to be running out of gas allowing Christie to dominate the rallies.

The Indonesian stretched his lead to four points which doubled to eight and although Lakshya saved three match points, he found the net with his next attempt to hand the tie. Jonatan Christie will next face compatriot Anthony Sinisuka Ginting in the title clash.

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