Lakshya Sen’s re-entry into Prime 10 of the world rankings this previous week, might need come about, due to detached outcomes of different contenders. However some patterns in his losses stay pervasive.
For a Prime 4 finisher on the Olympics, it stays shocking that he has by no means made finals of a Tremendous 750 match, whereas the All England Tremendous 1000 closing of 2022 is a one-off on the Tour. However even factoring in that Sen might be picky and peak for large tournaments, owing to a defensively body-battering recreation model needing rationing of energies, his historical past of scalping marquee names at will, is relatively sparse.
Sen aces a number of match-ups, like he is aware of he can get the higher of Anthony Ginting 3-0 (Head 2 Head), Li Shi Feng (7-4), Lee Zii Jia (5-2) and Loh Kean Yew (6-3). However he has additionally misplaced the Youth Olympics gold to Shi Feng and Paris Olympics bronze to Zii Jia. However he’s compiling some repetitive H2Hs in opposition to Viktor Axelsen (1-8 win loss), Anders Antonsen (2-5) and Kunlavut Vitidsarn (3-6), which might chip at his confidence if not corrected intermittently.
Nonetheless, his win in opposition to Jonatan Christie to get out of the group regardless of trailing him 2-4 in profession scores, provide hope.
Viktor: Factors differential
In response to Badminton World Federation data, Viktor Axelsen has scored a large 110 factors greater than Sen of their 9 matches (Sen has 297 factors, Axelsen has 407, 1-8 H2H). Although the double Olympic champ, has an over 100-point differential in opposition to each participant besides Antonsen (4-6 H2H), Lee Zii Jia (3-7) and Li Shi Feng (1-0), there’s a direct correlation between the wins teased out of the towering Dane and the variety of factors he’s allowed to fleece. Not solely does Sen have to defend nicely in opposition to him, he wants a far bigger variety of winners. The endgame from 18th level onwards is when Axelsen can swamp – or be swamped proper again.
Kunlavut: The opposite headache
Sen’s level differential in opposition to his Thai modern Kunlavut Vitidsarn (factors differential of -48) is especially pesky to attain off. Sen has 3 wins and 6 losses in opposition to the monkishly regular participant with selection in stroke play. Sen has 2 wins, 4 losses in opposition to Christie (level differential of -5), Kodai Naraoka (-25) and Chou Tien Chen (Sen scored 316 factors, ceded 315), all pointing to him staying in rivalry within the recreation, however not ending nicely sufficient.
Sen has a gentle grip on Li Shi Feng, the Chinese language inheritor obvious, with a 7-4 H2H, and a wholesome +60 factors differential. Sen is not going to balk on the prospect of going through him however the nonchalant psychological maintain he has over the Chinese language, might be examined as time goes by.
Ending woes
Whereas shedding 16-21, 21-12, 23-21 to Kenta Nishimoto at Indonesia Masters in Spherical 1, could possibly be right down to sub-par sharpness within the 73 minute battle, Sen has clearly struggled to summon his clutch play, evident in each Paris Olympic losses. At Jakarta, he did nicely to return again from 16-19 down in decider to 19-all, however his shot choice and technique acquired muddled as he navigated these 20-20, 21-21 conditions in stringing these 2-3 factors collectively.
Towards Lu Guang Zu at Denmark, one other three setter, Sen was 21-12, 16-11 up, however totally botched it from 17-17.
Just like the Olympics bronze playoff, shedding these leads when being moments away from profitable, utterly deflates him within the third.
Towards Axelsen at Paris, Sen led 15-9 and 20-17, however couldn’t convert. Towards Anders Antonsen on the Indonesia Open, he had two leads, 20-18 within the first, and 16-14 in second, and misplaced in straight units. The shock of holding the lead, then shedding it, paralyses Sen utterly on the crunch as he approaches the end line as if it was a barbed wire.
Slabs of blankness
A ‘wodge’ is an efficient phrase to explain the inexplicable bands or blocks of time-passages in a Lakshya Sen match when issues go south. The teenager isn’t mentally brittle by any measure, he has the truth is scored well-known wins nicking them at essential instances. However halfway by a set, with no warning by any means, Sen can abruptly hunch. Whether or not it’s a dip in focus or making an attempt too laborious, or just letting the opponent do his factor as he phlegmatically watches, solely his staff can determine. However Sen is infamous for shedding factors in a piece.
Towards Axelsen, Sen has abruptly conceded 6 factors or extra (as soon as, even 10 in a row), a complete 9 instances, leaving the door ajar, and unable to stem the flood. Zii Jia famously collected 9 in a row, when he took Paris bronze. He in all probability wants the nice ol’ slowing-down tips to not get blown away like this. However simply when he managed to limit the likes of Antonsen and stored it tight, Sen bungles a end.
Thrice now although, Sen has gone on a 6+ level run of his personal in opposition to Axelsen and nonetheless misplaced the match. These up and down bursts and cave-ins of power maybe want a median level, or staying within the current, as Kunlavut has mastered.