Kidambi Srikanth Falls Short in US Open Semifinals Against Su Li Yang

In a gripping semifinal match at the US Open Badminton tournament, former World No. 1 Kidambi Srikanth faced off against Su Li Yang from Chinese Taipei. Despite a valiant effort, Srikanth fell short, extending his wait for a BWF World Tour title since 2017. The match showcased intense competition, with both players exchanging leads before Su ultimately secured victory. Srikanth's sportsmanship was also highlighted during the tournament, making this match a memorable chapter in his career. Discover more about the match dynamics and Srikanth's reflections on his performance.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jun 29, 2026, 14:53 IST

US Open Badminton: Srikanth's Title Drought Continues

File image of Former World No. 1 Kidambi Srikanth(Photo: @India_AllSports/X)

Fullerton (US), June 29: Former World No. 1 Kidambi Srikanth's pursuit of a BWF World Tour title continues as he faced defeat against Su Li Yang from Chinese Taipei in the semifinals of the US Open Badminton tournament on Sunday.

The 33-year-old Srikanth, competing against a younger opponent, struggled to gain the winning momentum, ultimately losing with scores of 21-15, 16-21, 21-9 after an hour and nine minutes of play.

"I believe my efforts are yielding results. I need to keep pushing myself. I feel close, but winning those critical points is essential. Su Li Yang has been performing exceptionally well lately, and today he played brilliantly when it counted," remarked Srikanth, who last secured a BWF Tour title at the 2017 French Open.

In their previous encounters, Srikanth and Su Li Yang had each won one match. Their latest meeting before the US Open was during the round of 16 at the Thailand Open in May, where Su Li Yang emerged victorious in three games.

Su Li Yang started strong in the first game, quickly establishing a 10-5 lead. Although Srikanth managed to equalize at 10-10, Su then surged ahead, winning seven consecutive points to take the game.

In the second game, Srikanth matched Su's pace initially but shifted gears to lead from 15-13 to 20-13, eventually converting his fourth game point. However, this effort took a toll on his stamina.

Despite staying close at 9-7 in the final game, Su Li Yang then dominated, scoring eight straight points to clinch the match.

“I can hardly believe I achieved this. I’m thrilled and excited. In the final game, we were both fatigued, so I focused on maintaining concentration and pushing myself. I’m proud of my hard work and determination to win a World Tour title. This is my first, and I believe more will come," Su expressed after securing his maiden BWF Tour title.

During the tournament, Srikanth displayed remarkable sportsmanship in a tense semifinal moment when he chose to concede a point back to Japan’s Okimoto after officials refused to overturn a wrong call, despite his protests.