India’s Lakshya Sen exited the Round of 16 at the Japan Open 2025 after a straight-games defeat. Japan’s Kodai Naraoka sealed the match 21–19, 21–11 with a blend of power and precision.

Technique vs Power, A Tactical First Set
Lakshya began the opening set with a calm and technical approach, relying on placements and movement rather than brute force. He moved Naraoka side to side and control to cut down angles and deny space for big smashes.

However, Naraoka stayed aggressive, carving space for his powerful overheads and forcing Sen into deep retrievals. The rally lengths were long, and both players leaned heavily on defence — but Lakshya’s fading energy became visible.

two late crucial misjudgments by Lakshya gave Naraoka the opening, and he capitalized to take the set 21–19.

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Sen Fights Back, But Naraoka Stands Tall
In the second game, Lakshya flipped the script. He matched Naraoka’s power, played at a higher pace, and unleashed sharp smashes down the lines, momentarily breaking through the Japanese star’s rhythm.

But Naraoka’s defence stood like a wall. Every counter from Sen was absorbed and returned with added venom. As fatigue caught up with Lakshya, errors crept in, and the momentum shifted for good.

Naraoka stormed ahead and wrapped the second game 21–11, knocking out Lakshya from The Japan Open.

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India’s Singles Challenge Thins
With this loss, India’s singles hopes at the Japan Open take a major hit. Lakshya Sen had shown promise in early round, but consistency and stamina continue to be areas of concern in crunch matches.