Australian Open: Lakshya Sen Defeats Japan’s Yushi Tanaka to Claim Season’s First Crown

Lakshya Sen ended a challenging spell on the international circuit by capturing his first title of the season, defeating Japan’s Yushi Tanaka in the men’s singles final of the USD 475,000 Australian Open Super 500 on Sunday.

The 24-year-old dominated the contest, beating the world No. 26 by a convincing 21-15, 21-11 in just 38 minutes. Sen, a 2021 World Championships bronze-medallist, last lifted a title at the Syed Modi International Super 300 in 2024, and had not won a Super 500 crown since the Canada Open that year. His runner-up finish at the Hong Kong Super 500 in September had hinted at a return to form, which he now confirmed with a composed and clinical performance in Sydney.

With this win, the Commonwealth Games champion becomes only the second Indian to claim a BWF World Tour title this season, after Ayush Shetty’s Super 300 victory at the US Open. Other notable Indian performances this year include finals appearances by Satwiksairaj Rankireddy–Chirag Shetty at the Hong Kong and China Masters, and Kidambi Srikanth’s runner-up finish at the Malaysia Masters.

(Shorter, Tighter Edit)
Lakshya Sen snapped a difficult run on the global circuit by winning his first title of the season at the Australian Open Super 500 on Sunday. The 24-year-old put on a fluent display to overpower Japan’s Yushi Tanaka 21-15, 21-11 in 38 minutes.

This is Sen’s first top-tier title since the 2024 Canada Open, ending a long wait after a string of near misses, including his runner-up finish at the Hong Kong Super 500 this September.

The victory makes him only the second Indian to win a BWF World Tour event this season, following Ayush Shetty’s US Open triumph. The season has also seen deep tournament runs from Satwiksairaj Rankireddy–Chirag Shetty and Kidambi Srikanth.

(More Narrative, Same Facts)
Lakshya Sen rediscovered his best touch on Sunday, capturing the Australian Open Super 500 title with a commanding straight-games win over Japan’s Yushi Tanaka. The 24-year-old, who has weathered a rough post-Olympics phase, controlled the final from start to finish, securing a 21-15, 21-11 victory in 38 minutes.

The win marks his first title of the season and his first Super 500 triumph since 2024. Sen’s assured performance—marked by sharp placement and clean finishing—also makes him only the second Indian to clinch a BWF World Tour crown this year.

Ayush Shetty earlier won the US Open, while Satwiksairaj Rankireddy–Chirag Shetty and Kidambi Srikanth recorded notable runner-up finishes this season.