Treesa Jolly-Gayatri Gopichand retain Syed Modi International title, Kidambi Srikanth crashes in final

The Indian women's doubles pair of Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand successfully retained their crown at the Syed Modi International Super 300 tournament on Sunday.

Treesa and Gayatri retain women's doubles title

The defending champions put on an attacking masterclass, recovering strongly after losing the opening game. They ultimately outwitted Japan's world No. 35 pair, Kaho Osawa and Mai Tanabe, with a score of 17-21, 21-13, 21-15 in a pulsating final that lasted one hour and 16 minutes. Notably, this was only the second event for the Indian duo since Gayatri returned from a five-month layoff due to a shoulder injury.

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Kidambi Srikanth's title drought continues

In the men's singles final, Kidambi Srikanth's prolonged eight-year wait for a title continued following a heartbreaking loss. The former winner and 2021 World Championships silver medallist suffered a narrow defeat to Hong Kong's world No. 59, Jason Gunawan, in a 67-minute thriller. Srikanth, 32, went down 16-21, 21-8, 20-22. Having last claimed a title at the French Open in 2017, Srikanth had come close to ending his drought earlier this year when he finished as runner-up at the Malaysia Masters Super 500.

Jason Gunawan gets the better of Srikanth

The match began with Jason Gunawan taking an early advantage, quickly building a 4-1 lead and maintaining a three-point cushion heading into the mid-game interval. Following the break, errors crept into Srikanth's play, particularly his lifts, which floated long and allowed Gunawan to extend his lead to 14-10. Although Srikanth responded with crisp smashes, Gunawan remained sharp, surging to 17-11 with a precise straight down-the-line winner. Srikanth managed to save three of the seven game points he faced, but Gunawan eventually sealed the opener with a decisive and powerful smash.

Switching sides in the second game brought a revitalized Srikanth to the court. He injected blistering pace into his attack, unleashing razor-sharp smashes and executing brilliant retrievals to quickly race ahead 6-1. Although a body smash from Gunawan briefly interrupted the run, Srikanth maintained intense pressure on the backhand side, leading 11-4 at the interval and ultimately earning 13 game points. He converted the second of these opportunities, emphatically roaring back to level the contest.

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The final decider began with Srikanth taking an early 5-1 lead. However, Gunawan fiercely clawed his way back, showcasing incredible defense, including a jaw-dropping retrieval that left Srikanth sprawled on the floor, narrowing the gap to 4-5 before eventually taking a 6-5 lead. Srikanth managed to regain a slight edge, leading 11-10 at the interval with a delicate winning dribble. Upon resumption, Srikanth utilized a deceptive net shot and targeted steep smashes to move ahead 14-11 as the rallies tightened significantly.

Gunawan refused to yield, reeling off three superb points—a fine drop shot and two aggressive winners—to level the score at 14-14, and then took the lead when Srikanth hit wide. The tension continued as the score escalated from 17-17 to 19-19. Srikanth then conceded a match point after narrowly missing the backline, but he successfully saved it with a deep push that the Hong Kong player failed to retrieve. At 20-20, Gunawan unleashed a powerful jump smash and followed it up with an attacking return to earn another match point, converting it when Srikanth's final forehand push sailed long, bringing the thrilling contest to a close.

Treesa-Gayatri's total domination over Japanese duo

The women's doubles final immediately established itself as a high-intensity contest with a breathtaking 49-shot opening rally. Both pairs fought fiercely before Japan’s Kaho Osawa and Mai Tanabe managed to edge ahead 6-3. India’s Treesa Jolly pulled the score level with a couple of sharp smashes, and an error from Osawa’s forehand helped the defending champions briefly move ahead 8-6. However, the Japanese duo regrouped to secure a slender lead at the interval and maintained their hold, stretching their advantage to 18-15. Tanabe sealed the opener with a powerful smash after the Indian pair managed to save two of the five game points they faced.

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The change of ends brought a decisive shift in momentum, with the Indian pair of Treesa and Gayatri Gopichand finding their rhythm. They displayed excellent anticipation, surging to a commanding 9-2 lead. Despite a few errors hitting the net, they secured an 11-5 advantage at the break, notably bolstered by a booming smash from Treesa in the backcourt. The Indians continued to dictate the rallies, marching ahead to 17-9. Treesa's quick racquet speed and sharp movement allowed her to unleash a flurry of attacking returns, taking the score to 20-11. After squandering two game points, a long lift from the Japanese forced the match into a crucial decider.

In the third and final game, the Indian pair moved ahead 7-4, though a brief moment of miscommunication cost them a few points. They quickly restored control through sharp net interceptions. A deceptive net shot from Treesa, followed by another well-constructed point, gave them a comfortable six-point cushion at the interval. Osawa and Tanabe fought to narrow the deficit to 12-14 and later 13-15. However, a fired-up Treesa delivered another disguised net shot, and Gayatri unleashed a sharp smash, bringing the Indian pair close to victory. A delicate drop shot from Treesa and a wide shot from the Japanese opponents handed the Indians six match points, which they converted on the second attempt to successfully retain their women's doubles crown.