Satwiksairaj Rankireddy-Chirag Shetty Lose In Semifinals As India Open Campaign Ends

Indian doubles pair Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty's campaign at the India Open Super 750 ended in the semifinals after they suffered a straight-game loss.

Indian doubles pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty's campaign at the India Open Super 750 ended in the semifinals after they suffered a straight-game loss to Malaysia's Goh Sze Fei and Nur Izzuddin in New Delhi on Saturday. Satwik and Chirag, the 2022 champions, were outplayed 18-21, 14-21 in just 37 minutes by the world number 3 Malaysian duo, who produced a class act to derail the Indian pair's game plan. "I think we should have closed down in the first game but credit to them they were really good in the service situations, which we didn't really expect because probably we didn't prepare for it. Having said that, we should have been little more calmer," Chirag said after the loss.

"We didn't really expect so many flicks going into the game, especially from 15-12 and then we were receiving quite well but I think we should have been a bit more calmer." Satwik, who fell on the court and seemed to have twisted his ankle, said he'll have to take a look at it.

"Yeah, I think I have to check now. I think I twisted quite badly," Satwik said.

This marks a second consecutive semifinal finish for Satwik and Chirag this season, following their last eight finish at the Malaysia Open Super 1000 in Kuala Lumpur last week.

The Indian duo had signed off with a semifinal finish at the China Masters as well, their comeback event following the quarterfinal exit at the Paris Olympics.