29 Jun, 04:06
Srikanth 21 - 14 Leverdez (1-0)
And Srikanth is in the semis. He hardly had to sweat or toil for it. He now leads Leverdez 2-0 in head-to-head. Let's see what PV Sindhu has in store for us!
29 Jun, 04:05
Srikanth 17 - 12 Leverdez (1-0)
A brief run of recovery for Leverdez, but Srikanth seems to have stinted it.
29 Jun, 04:03
Srikanth 16 - 11 Leverdez (1-0)
He is coming back, is he? Srikanth cannot mellow done any further. The game might get out of his hands.
29 Jun, 04:01
Srikanth 15 - 9 Leverdez (1-0)
Three points in a row for the Frenchman. Can he draw level again?
29 Jun, 04:00
Srikanth 14 - 6 Leverdez (1-0)
This is a one-way street now... This has been the story this campaign for Srikanth. After a hard fought first game, he has just smothered his opponents.
29 Jun, 03:57
Srikanth 11 - 5 Leverdez (1-0)
Seven points in a row! This is out of Leverdez's hands now!
29 Jun, 03:54
Srikanth 7 - 5 Leverdez (1-0)
Again Srikanth does it! Two-point lead. Is it not Leverdez's day?
29 Jun, 03:52
Srikanth 4 - 4 Leverdez (1-0)
This game might go to the wire as well! Leverdez has come back to draw level points multiple times now and is looking for that one lead to take him home.
29 Jun, 03:49
Srikanth 1 - 1 Leverdez (1-0)
As discouraging as the first game was, there is no reason for Leverdez to back out now. They start on a stronger note.
29 Jun, 03:48
Srikanth 21 - 18 Leverdez
And Srikanth seals the first game! Like a bullet engine, this guy gets hotter with every rally!
29 Jun, 03:43
Srikanth 17 - 17 Leverdez
What a game this is turning out to be! No one is giving an inch to the other! Crazy stuff!
29 Jun, 03:41
Srikanth 16 - 13 Leverdez
Yet another three points in a row for Srikanth. Every time Leverdez is closer to get a grasp, Srikanth just notches up a gear!
29 Jun, 03:40
Srikanth 13 - 13 Leverdez
Leverdez draws equal points! This isn't going to be easy for Srikanth. The Frenchman looks determined.
29 Jun, 03:38
Srikanth 12 - 10 Leverdez
Leverdez shows quick reflexes to cut the margin to one point before Srikanth gets back a two-point lead.
29 Jun, 03:36
Srikanth 11 - 9 Leverdez
The Frenchman pulls one back but it is Srikanth who leads at the break!
29 Jun, 03:36
Srikanth 9 - 8 Leverdez
THREE POINTS ON A ROW FOR THE INDIAN! He isn't giving a slack either.
29 Jun, 03:33
Srikanth 6 - 8 Leverdez
It's edgy stuff in Malaysia as the Frenchman is keeping the Indian at arm's length. Still a two- point lead for Leverdez
29 Jun, 03:32
Srikanth 3 - 6 Leverdez
As expected Srikanth does not keep his early momentum going and has fallen behind in the first game after losing the next four points.
29 Jun, 03:31
Srikanth 3 - 2 Leverdez
Srikanth has started off well and currently, leads Leverdez by a point. Srikanth has won the only match between the two but this one could be tight.
29 Jun, 03:19
Update
In the previous matches so far, Japan’s Kim Hye Rin and Kong Hee Yong has beaten China’s Du Yue and Li Yinhui 21-16, 21-23, 21-19 in the women’s doubles to reach the semi-finals. In the men’s doubles China’s He Jiting and Tan Qiang defeated Indonesian duo Marcus Fernaldi Gideon and Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo 21-17, 21-11.
29 Jun, 02:52
K Srikanth vs B Leverdez
Kidambi Srikanth takes on France’s Brice Leverdez in the quarter-final of the Malaysia Open and is the only Indian left in the men’s singles after Sai Praneeth crashed out two rounds back. Srikanth will be the favourite after he defeated the likes of Jan Jorgensen and Wang Tzu Wei on his way.
Srikanth has looked in the best of shapes in the last few days as he ran riots over his Danish and Chinese Taipei players with relative ease. While Jorgensen had posed some challenge in his clash with Srikanth, where he was seen fighting back taking the first game right to the wire, before Srikanth eventually sealed it 21-18, the second game was not an issue for Srikanth as he had successfully broken this opponent’s spirit by that time.
The last game was as easy as it could be for Srikanth as he finished it within 36 minutes despite getting off to a nervy start. Though the first game was stretched to an uncomfortable extent for the Indian, he won it 22-20, before he came back strongly yet again in the second one to win it 21-12, thereby avenging Sai Praneeth’s early elimination.
Leverdez would be a tricky opponent for Srikanth as well, who has defeated the likes of Hans-Kristian Solberg Vittinghus and Jonatan Christie before. Srikanth faced Leverdez last in the All England Open in March earlier this year and enjoys a 1-0 lead in the head-to-head battle.