Denmark Open 2026: Lakshya Sen Falls to Chou Tien-chen, PV Sindhu Suffers Shock Defeat; Tanvi Sharma and Kidambi Srikanth Advance

India endured a mixed opening day at the Denmark Open 2026 Super 750, with Lakshya Sen and PV Sindhu suffering three-game defeats while young Tanvi Sharma and Kidambi Srikanth progressed to the round of 16. 

Sindhu was beaten by Germany’s Yvonne Li, who secured her first victory over the Indian in their fourth meeting, while Lakshya went down to Chinese Taipei’s Chou Tien-chen after a hard-fought contest.

Tanvi produced a gritty comeback to overcome Japan’s Natsuki Nidaira in a 72-minute women’s singles battle, and Srikanth showed composure under pressure to defeat France’s Arnaud Merkle in straight games.

Sindhu’s Denmark Open campaign ended in disappointment as Li recovered from a difficult position in the deciding game to claim a 21-17, 16-21, 21-19 victory. The Indian appeared to have the match under control late in the decider, leading 19-15. However, Li responded with a remarkable run of six consecutive points to turn the contest around and secure her first win against Sindhu in four meetings.

The defeat was particularly frustrating because Sindhu had shown resilience in the second game. Trailing 12-15 and later 17-19, she fought back to put herself in contention, but Li held on to take the game 21-19 and force a decider.

Sindhu had won the opening game 21-17, but Li raised her level as the match progressed. The German’s decisive late surge proved the difference, denying the Indian a place in the next round.

Li’s victory sets up a potential second-round meeting with another Indian, Tanvi Sharma, should the youngster continue her run.

Tanvi Sharma came through a demanding three-game encounter against Japan’s Natsuki Nidaira, winning 21-17, 16-21, 21-19 to reach the round of 16. The youngster had to work hard throughout the 72-minute match, with Nidaira forcing a decider after taking the second game. Tanvi’s challenge was to manage her errors and maintain her composure in the closing stages, particularly when the match threatened to slip away.

She responded well when it mattered, turning around the deciding game to secure a valuable win. The performance demonstrated her ability to fight through a difficult contest rather than allow mistakes to dictate the outcome. Tanvi’s progress is a positive result for India’s women’s singles campaign. She now faces the prospect of meeting either Sindhu’s conqueror Li or another opponent depending on the draw, with a potential clash against Li offering an opportunity to build on her hard-earned opening-round victory.

Kidambi Srikanth Battles Back to Beat Arnaud Merkle

Kidambi Srikanth delivered one of India’s more encouraging performances, defeating France’s Arnaud Merkle 22-20, 21-19 to advance to the round of 16. The match was closely contested, with neither game offering much room for error. Srikanth edged the opening game 22-20 before completing the win with a 21-19 result in the second.

The second game was especially notable because Srikanth found himself trailing 2-9 at one stage. Instead of allowing Merkle to build an insurmountable advantage, the Indian raised his intensity and mounted an impressive comeback. Srikanth also appeared increasingly frustrated by Merkle serving before he was ready to receive. The incident added an emotional edge to the contest, but the Indian maintained his focus and found a way to close out the match.

The victory takes Srikanth into the last 16 after a demanding encounter in which his response to adversity proved decisive.

Lakshya Sen produced several strong passages of play but could not overcome the experienced Chou Tien-chen, losing 18-21, 21-13, 15-21 in a three-game men’s singles contest. The opening game was a major missed opportunity for Lakshya. He led 18-15 and appeared well placed to take the early advantage, only for Chou to reel off six consecutive points and snatch the game 21-15.

Lakshya responded emphatically in the second game, dictating the pace and taking control of the rallies. His aggressive play helped him establish a substantial lead, and he eventually levelled the match with a 21-13 win. The deciding game, however, proved more difficult. Lakshya’s slow start allowed Chou to gain momentum, repeating a pattern that has troubled the Indian in tight matches. Although Lakshya produced some excellent rallies, he could not prevent the deficit from growing and went down 15-21.

Chou once again demonstrated the stamina and court coverage that have made him such a formidable opponent. Even after Lakshya’s commanding second game, the Taiwanese shuttler adjusted and regained control when the match was on the line. For Lakshya, the defeat will raise questions about his starts in deciding games and his tendency to concede runs of consecutive points. His level in the second game showed he could dictate the contest, but sustaining that intensity across all three games remains crucial.

India’s opening-round results offered contrasting stories. Tanvi Sharma and Kidambi Srikanth advanced after displaying resilience in close matches, while Sindhu and Lakshya were left to reflect on opportunities that slipped away.

Sindhu’s late collapse against Li and Lakshya’s opening-game setback against Chou highlighted how quickly momentum can change at the highest level. Tanvi, meanwhile, showed the value of staying composed in a deciding game, while Srikanth’s recovery from a sizeable second-game deficit underlined his fighting spirit.

With Tanvi and Srikanth through to the round of 16, India retain representation in both singles competitions. The focus now shifts to whether the two can build on their opening victories and make a deeper run at the Denmark Open Super 750.