Su Li Yang Denies Srikanth in Yonex US Open 2026 Men’s Singles Final
YONEX US Open 2026 | Super 300 | Men’s Singles Final | Titan Gym, Fullerton, California | Sunday, June 28, 2026
Su Li Yang (TPE) bt Kidambi Srikanth (IND) 21-15, 16-21, 21-9
Duration: 1 hour, 9 minutes
Introduction
Chinese Taipei’s Su Li Yang claimed the maiden BWF World Tour title of his career at the YONEX US Open 2026, edging past India’s Kidambi Srikanth in a physical three-game men’s singles final at Titan Gym. The 24-year-old eighth seed took the opening and deciding games to deny the 33-year-old former world No. 1 a first Tour title in several years, closing out a contest that swung on fitness and finishing power as much as skill.
Match Facts at a Glance
| Detail | Information |
| Result | Su Li Yang (TPE) bt Kidambi Srikanth (IND) 21-15, 16-21, 21-9 |
| Duration | 1 hour, 9 minutes |
| Su’s Ranking | 44th, 8th seed |
| Srikanth’s Ranking | 27th |
| Significance | Su Li Yang’s maiden BWF World Tour title |
| Points Gained | Su Li Yang 7,000; Srikanth 5,950 |
Match Narrative
Game One: Su Sprints Clear
Srikanth was the quicker starter, but a rare error — his racquet crossing the net mid-rally — appeared to disrupt his rhythm, and a string of unforced mistakes let Su open up a 7-2 lead. The Indian regrouped impressively, winning eight of the next eleven points to level at 10-10, and his powerful smashes edged him ahead at the mid-game interval. But Su responded with two thunderous smashes after the break, and from 4-4 the momentum shifted decisively; the Taiwanese shuttler won seven consecutive points to close out the opening game 21-15.
Game Two: Srikanth Fights Back
Srikanth’s excellent net play helped him build and hold an advantage through the middle of the second game, and locked at 15-13, he raised his intensity to devastating effect — winning five straight points to surge to 20-13 before converting his fourth game point to force a decider. It was vintage Srikanth: composed net exchanges mixed with sudden bursts of pace that his younger opponent simply couldn’t match in that stretch.
Game Three: Fatigue Tells
The effort of the second-game comeback appeared to take its toll. Srikanth stayed within touching distance early in the decider, level at 9-7, but the 24-year-old Su then reeled off eight consecutive points to seal the match. The age gap and the accumulated minutes of a gruelling week finally showed, as Su closed out the title 21-9 in the final game.
Key Talking Points
- A breakthrough for Su Li Yang. This was only the second career final for the Chinese Taipei shuttler, who lost his first — the Taipei Open — to Indonesia’s Chico Aura Dwi Wardoyo three years ago. Fullerton delivered his maiden Tour title.
- A repeat result. Su had already beaten the higher-ranked Srikanth once this year, at the Thailand Open last month — a psychological edge that may have played a part in the final.
- Srikanth’s title wait continues. The former world No. 1 and 2021 World Championships silver medallist was also runner-up at the Malaysia Masters Super 500 and Syed Modi International Super 300 last year — a pattern of reaching finals without closing them out.
- A gruelling route to the final. Srikanth’s semi-final against Japan’s Yudai Okimoto included a widely praised moment of sportsmanship that may have cost him some energy heading into the summit clash.
Conclusion
Su Li Yang’s maiden title came against the run of ranking but not against the run of recent form — his win over Srikanth at the Thailand Open was no fluke, and Fullerton confirmed it. For Srikanth, a spirited second-game fightback showed the class that once made him world No. 1, but the 33-year-old’s search for a first Tour title in years goes on. Both men leave Fullerton with reasons for confidence heading into the rest of the season.