Singapore Open: India's superstar duo of Satwiksairaj-Chirag guns down World no.1 pair to roll into semifinal

India's superstar men's doubles duo Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty put on a show in the Singapore Open quarterfinal clash and gunned down World no.1 Malaysian pair of Goh Sze Fei and Nur Izzuddin in straight games.

Satwiksairaj-Chirag make light work of World no.1 pair

Satwiksairaj-Chirag are well on track to secure their first title of the season having stapled their spot in the semifinal. The Indian pair displed formidable defense and exceptional control at the net. Their precise play led them to a decisive 21-17, 21-15 win in a 39-minute quarterfinal match at the Super 750 badminton tournament.

Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty are set to face the third-seeded Malaysian pair, Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik, in the semifinal match. This marks their third semifinal appearance of the season, having previously reached the last-four stage at both the Malaysia and India Opens earlier this year. Their last encounter was in March at the All England Championships, which unfortunately saw Chirag aggravate a back injury, forcing the duo to withdraw in the second round.

Going into the match, the former world No. 1 Indian pair held a strong 6-2 head-to-head record against the Malaysians, despite having lost their most recent meeting at the India Open. The battle kicked off with two service faults within the first four points, characterised by short rallies as both pairs aimed for angled returns and early attacks. This resulted in an even score progression from 1-1 to 7-7 before the Indians secured a three-point lead at the interval, primarily due to Satwik's control over the serve and third shot. The Indian pair maintained their pressure to build a 15-11 lead, though Satwik committed a service error and Izzuddin unleashed a jump smash to narrow the gap to 13-15.

A powerful forehand smash from Satwik propelled India to an 18-15 lead. Izzuddin then hit a shot wide, and Chirag, who had earlier sent a shot long, redeemed himself with a straight smash, earning three game points. Goh then buried a service return into the net, handing the Indians the opening game and an early advantage.

In the second game, Chirag initially made a few errors, but the Indian pair adeptly maintained their rhythm during the fast-paced rallies, bringing the score level at 6-6. Satwik and Chirag then surged ahead, securing four consecutive points before an unforced error briefly interrupted their momentum. A powerful shot from Chirag forced a weak return from Izzuddin, sending the shuttle into the net and giving India a four-point lead at the interval.

After the break, a precise backhand at the net pushed the Indians to 15-9. Satwik then delivered a sharp smash, extending their lead to 16-10. Despite a couple of unforced errors, Satwik's fierce return earned them five match points, and they ultimately ended up winning the match following another error from the Malaysian duo