Indian badminton sensation Lakshya Sen has finally broken his title drought by clinching the Australia Open Super 500 championship in Sydney. The World No. 14 displayed remarkable composure to secure a convincing victory against Japan's Yushi Tanaka in the final match of his overseas season.
Dominant Performance After Tough Season
Sen wrapped up his international campaign for the season with an impressive 21-15, 21-11 victory over Tanaka. This triumph comes as a significant relief for the Indian shuttler who had experienced several near-misses throughout the year, most notably finishing as runner-up at the Hong Kong Open earlier this season.
The victory holds special importance given Sen's recent struggles with injuries and inconsistent form. Unlike previous tournaments where he often squandered promising leads, particularly from the 17-point mark onward, the Indian player demonstrated newfound mental strength throughout the Australia Open final.
Mastering Mental Game Proves Crucial
Speaking to the Olympic channel after his victory, Sen emphasized the importance of his mental approach. "It was important to get a good start. The first game and first mid-game was quite even, but then I gained good momentum and could finish the first set strongly," Sen revealed.
The 23-year-old specifically highlighted his improved ability to handle pressure situations. "I could really be calm in the closing stages of the first set, and I'm happy with the way I played," he added, acknowledging his past struggles with maintaining composure during crucial moments.
Sen further elaborated to BWF about his conscious effort to avoid complacency. "In the second set, I was quite far ahead in the lead, but I didn't want to get that too much inside my head so I wouldn't relax too much. In the back of my mind, it was there, but I was just trying to focus on playing one point at a time," he explained.
Season of Ups and Downs
Reflecting on his challenging 2025 season, Sen acknowledged the rollercoaster journey. "Yes, I've seen many ups and downs this season. I didn't start the season well, but I'm happy with how I played in this tournament and throughout this week," he told the Olympic channel.
The Australian Open victory becomes particularly significant considering Sen's previous title wins at the India Open and Canada Open in 2022 and 2024 respectively. The extended gap between titles had increased pressure on the seventh-seeded Indian player.
While the field in Sydney wasn't the strongest on the circuit, Tanaka had demonstrated his capabilities by defeating higher-ranked players including Jojo Christie and other seeded names en route to the final.
Sen described the final as "a big match with big atmosphere - a big, big, big occasion for both of us." He credited his success to sticking to basics and maintaining focus throughout the match.
Although the victory comes too late for qualification to the World Tour Finals, Sen plans to carry this positive momentum into the next season. "The way I've played in the last 2-3 months, I'd love to continue this momentum forward to next season. I'll keep looking after my body and just keep playing like this," he concluded optimistically.
