Indian shuttler Srikanth Kidambi has long been considered one of the most exciting, yet frustrating players to watch due to his rollercoaster style of play. At the recent Swiss Open, fans bore witness to the full range of emotions that comes with supporting the veteran star.
Kidambi began his campaign in stunning fashion, reeling off three straight two-game victories over quality opponents such as Wang Tzu Wei and Lee Zii Jia. His crisp netplay and big smashing had the fans on the edge of their seats in delight. It seemed a first title in over two years was within reach.
However, in his semifinal clash against Lin Chun Yi, the rollercoaster dipped as Kidambi suffered an all too familiar collapse. After dominating the opening game, he surrendered the second without response as unforced errors began to pile up.
The deciding game had it all – moments of pure quality, dramatic momentum shifts, and nail-biting rallies that had the crowd gasping. With the scores level at 16-16, it could have gone either way. Ultimately it was the younger Chun Yi who held his nerve to emerge victorious.
While the defeat extended Kidambi's wait for a tournament title to 27 months, his performances in Basel provided a glimpse of why he remains one of Indian badminton's most gifted players. With renewed focus on winning over qualification, more thrilling rides from the veteran are sure to come. Fans will just have to strap in for what's sure to be an emotional rollercoaster.
