India's premier men’s doubles pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty have advanced to the semifinals of the China Masters Super 750 tournament after a dominant straight-games victory over the Chinese duo of Ren Xiang Yu and Xie Haonan. The Indians secured the win with a score of 21-14, 21-14 in a quarterfinal clash that lasted 37 minutes.
The duo got off to a flying start in the first game, racing to a commanding 7-0 lead with a flurry of smashes. Despite the Chinese pair’s attempts to change the pace, the Indians maintained their aggressive and sharp rhythm, entering the mid-game interval with an 11-5 advantage. They continued to dominate, eventually taking the opening game after converting their second game point.
The second game was more competitive in the early stages, with both pairs tied at 7-7. However, Satwik and Chirag pulled ahead with disciplined net play and powerful smashes, leading 11-9 at the break. After the interval, the Indians upped their game, with Chirag delivering two consecutive smashes to extend their lead to 19-13. They secured the match on their first match point, completing the win with another aggressive stroke.
After the match, Rankireddy expressed satisfaction with their performance, stating, "We felt pretty comfortable over there. It's so good to play back-to-back, freely without any niggles." Shetty added, "I think we made it tough for them right from the start. We didn't allow them to settle into the game at all... Really happy with the performance." The win marks their seventh semifinal appearance of the year.
The Indian pair, who recently won their second bronze medal at the World Championships and were runners-up at the Hong Kong Open, will now face familiar rivals in Malaysia’s Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik in the semifinals. Satwik and Chirag, will aim to continue their form and secure a spot in their second final of the year.
