Lakshya Sen regained his winning rhythm on the international stage as he clinched the USD 475,000 Australian Open Super 500 title with a sharp and composed performance in Sydney on Sunday. The Indian shuttler outplayed Japan’s Yushi Tanaka 21-15, 21-11 in just 38 minutes to seal his first title of the 2025 season and first Super 500 crown in nearly a year.
A Timely Return to Form for Lakshya Sen After Olympic Setback?
The 24-year-old from Almora has had a torrid run on the circuit since his fourth-place finish at the Paris Olympics, struggling with form and consistency, and came to the Australian leg looking for momentum and he managed a resurgent, confident campaign.
This title is his biggest win since the Canada Open Super 500 in 2024, thus ending a long wait for a top-tier crown. His last tournament victory came at the Syed Modi Super 300 in 2024.
How Much Prize Money Did Lakshya Sen Get After Winning Australian Open?
Lakshya Sen’s victory at the Australian Open Super 500 also came with a substantial financial reward. The tournament carried a total prize purse of USD 475,000, and as the men’s singles champion, Lakshya took home the winner’s share.
Lakshya’s earnings from the event translate to a significant sum in Indian currency, reported by Indian media outlets to be worth several crores. The financial boost adds further weight to a title that already carries immense competitive value, marking a strong return to form for the Indian shuttler.
How Did Lakshya Outplay Tanaka in the Final?
Up against world No. 26 Tanaka, already a two-time Super 300 champion this year, Lakshya controlled the contest from start to finish. His tight net play, measured aggression and deep placements kept the Japanese shuttler under constant strain.
Lakshya opened up a 6-3 lead as Tanaka’s errors mounted. A mix of clever rallies and firm smashes pushed the Indian ahead 11-8 at the interval. The crowd, filled with Indian supporters, then drove him forward as he moved further ahead with precision hitting and smart backcourt judgment.
While Tanaka attempted a brief fightback, Lakshya’s consistency ensured he closed the first game 21-15 without fuss.
What Made the Second Game So Dominant?
The second game became one-sided. Fast, flat exchanges by Lakshya denied Tanaka the lift he required for his powerful trademark smashes. The Japanese player’s attempts to attack grew increasingly erratic as the Indian surged ahead 10-5 and then 13-6.
Lakshya was also brilliant in his on-court coverage and anticipation as Tanaka hit either long or into the net time and again. A string of sharp smashes gave him an unbeatable 19-8 lead. He bagged 10 match points soon after and wrapped up the match with a crisp cross-court return.
What Does This Win Mean for India’s 2025 Season?
This victory makes Lakshya only the second Indian shuttler to lift a BWF World Tour title in 2025, after Ayush Shetty’s Super 300 triumph in the US Open.
The other top players of India, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy–Chirag Shetty and Kidambi Srikanth, have been runners-up in major events this year.
The title is expected to inject new confidence into the India men’s singles line-up, which has shown flickers of promise without quite managing to post title-winning finishes at the highest level this season.
