Kidambi Srikanth: Sportsmanship and Heartbreak at Yonex US Open 2026
YONEX US Open 2026 | Player Feature | Fullerton, California
Introduction
Kidambi Srikanth left Fullerton without the trophy he came for, but the 33-year-old former world No. 1 delivered the two moments that will be remembered longest from the YONEX US Open 2026 — a gutsy fightback in the men’s singles final, and an act of sportsmanship in the semi-final that drew praise well beyond the badminton world. A runner-up finish, in the end, tells only part of the story of Srikanth’s week in Southern California.
Tournament at a Glance
| Detail | Information |
| Result | Runner-up, Men’s Singles |
| Final Score | Lost to Su Li Yang (TPE) 21-15, 16-21, 21-9 |
| Ranking Entering Event | 27th |
| Career Context | Former World No. 1; 2021 World Championships silver medallist; six Super Series titles (2014–2017) |
| Points Gained | 5,950 |
A Semi-Final Defined by Sportsmanship
Before the final even began, Srikanth had already produced the standout moment of the tournament. In a tense passage of his semi-final against Japan’s Yudai Okimoto, officials declined to overturn a contested line call despite heavy protests from the Japanese camp. Rather than accept the point, Srikanth walked up to the referee and conceded it back to Okimoto himself — a gesture of fair play that drew widespread praise across the badminton community, even as some observers later wondered whether the extra passage of play cost him a fraction of the energy he badly needed in the final.
Srikanth went on to beat Okimoto and reach his first final of the season, with Okimoto eventually finishing third alongside India’s own Rounak Chouhan, who was beaten by eventual champion Su Li Yang in the other semi-final.
The Final: A Story of Two Comebacks
Facing an opponent nine years his junior, Srikanth started brightly in the opening game before a rare error — his racquet clipping the net mid-rally — seemed to unsettle his rhythm, allowing Su Li Yang to build a 7-2 lead. Srikanth clawed his way back to level at 10-10, only for Su to reel off seven straight points and close out the first game 21-15.
The second game brought vintage Srikanth. Locked with his opponent at 15-13, he found another gear entirely, winning five consecutive points to surge to 20-13 and force a decider with his fourth game point. It was the kind of high-intensity burst that once made him one of the most dangerous players on the circuit — but it also came at a physical cost. In the third game, Srikanth stayed within reach at 9-7 before Su, nine years younger and considerably fresher, won eight straight points to close out the title 21-9.
In His Own Words
Srikanth was gracious in defeat, crediting his opponent’s recent form: “Su’s been playing really well the last few months. It’s another day where he played exceptionally well and during the points that really mattered.” It was a frank acknowledgement of a rival who had already beaten him once this season, at the Thailand Open the previous month.
A Career Still Searching for the Next Title
Fullerton extends a frustrating pattern for Srikanth, who was also runner-up at the Malaysia Masters Super 500 and the Syed Modi International Super 300 last year. For a player who won six Super Series titles between 2014 and 2017 and reached the summit of the world rankings, the wait for a first Tour title in several years continues — even as his results show a player still fully capable of competing with, and beating, the very best on his day.
Key Talking Points
- A tournament remembered for character as much as results. The semi-final concession to Okimoto is likely to be remembered longer than the final scoreline itself.
- Fitness the deciding factor. Srikanth matched Su Li Yang for quality across long stretches of the final but couldn’t sustain it physically against a significantly younger opponent.
- A repeat defeat. Su Li Yang had already beaten Srikanth this season at the Thailand Open, suggesting a stylistic problem Srikanth will need to solve.
- Continued near-misses. A third runner-up finish in as many notable tournaments raises questions about closing out finals, even as Srikanth’s ability to reach them remains undimmed.
Conclusion
Kidambi Srikanth didn’t leave Fullerton with the trophy, but he left with something arguably more valuable to his legacy — a reminder, both in a second-game masterclass and in a single conceded point in the semi-final, of exactly why he remains one of the most respected figures in world badminton. At 33, with the physical gap to his younger rivals now a genuine factor, the search for a first title in years goes on. But on this evidence, Srikanth is far from finished as a contender.