Kidambi Srikanth falls to Japan’s Nishimoto in Canada Open 2025 semifinals

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New Delhi: India’s Kidambi Srikanth’s run at the Canada Open 2025 came to an end on Saturday after he lost to Japan’s Kenta Nishimoto in the men’s singles semifinal. Srikanth showed glimpses of returning to top form this season but went down 21-19, 14-21, 18-21 in a match that lasted one hour and 18 minutes.

The match started positively for Srikanth as he took the first game 21-19 with sharp net play and well-timed smashes. However, Nishimoto who is ranked higher and known for his relentless retrieving, fought back in the second game and won by 21-14 to level the match.

In the decider, Srikanth and Nishimoto went neck-and-neck with the scores tied at 18-18, setting up a tense finish. At this crucial stage, Nishimoto capitalised on a weak return from Srikanth to take the lead and the Indian shuttler’s two consecutive wide shots handed the Japanese player the victory.

Earlier in the tournament, Srikanth had impressed with a commanding performance in the quarterfinals where he defeated world No. 6 Chou Tien-Chen of Chinese Taipei in straight games, 21-18, 21-9, within 43 minutes. That victory was seen as a significant confidence booster for Srikanth. He even reached the final of the Malaysia Masters earlier this season.

Sankar Muthusamy’s brave fight

The 2022 World Junior Championships silver medallist S Sankar Muthusamy Subramanian also had a memorable run before bowing out in the quarterfinals against Nishimoto. He showcased his fighting spirit by taking the match to a decider before losing 15-21, 21-5, 17-21 in a gruelling 79-minute contest.

Looking ahead

While Srikanth’s exit is a disappointment, his performance in the Canada Open 2025 has shown signs of steady improvement. With the World Championships and the Olympic qualification in full swing, his tight matches triumph will give him a boost. These will serve as a strong foundation as Srikanth and the Indian contingent continue their pursuit of glory on the global stage.