HS Prannoy Stuns World No. 5 Jonatan Christie in Massive Singapore Open Upset
HS Prannoy reminded the badminton world exactly why he remains one of India’s most dangerous big-match players with a sensational comeback victory over World No. 5 Jonatan Christie in the opening round of the Singapore Open Super 750 tournament.
The experienced Indian shuttler battled back from a crushing first-game defeat to overcome the Indonesian star 10-21, 21-12, 21-18 and storm into the Round of 16 in one of the biggest upsets of the tournament so far. It was Prannoy’s first victory over Christie since January 2021 and a much-needed statement result for the Indian veteran, who has shown flashes of top-level form this season but lacked a defining win against elite opposition.
For nearly the entire opening game, Prannoy looked completely outplayed. Christie dominated the rallies with sharp movement, steep attacking angles and relentless pace from the backcourt. The Indonesian raced through the first game 21-10, leaving very little indication that the match would soon completely change direction.
Prannoy struggled to control the tempo early and repeatedly found himself forced deep into defensive positions.
But one thing that has defined Prannoy throughout his career is resilience. Even at 35, the Indian continues to possess enough shot-making quality and tactical variation to trouble the world’s best when rhythm begins shifting his way.
And that shift arrived quickly in the second game.
From the start of the second game, Prannoy looked significantly more aggressive. Instead of allowing Christie to dictate long rallies comfortably, the Indian began attacking earlier, especially with his cross-court smashes and sharper net play. The change immediately disrupted Christie’s rhythm.
Prannoy also improved considerably on return situations, forcing the Indonesian into uncomfortable positions repeatedly. The Indian’s body language changed too — he looked more composed, more energetic and far more willing to engage in attacking exchanges. The result was a dominant 21-12 second-game win that completely flipped momentum heading into the decider.
The deciding game delivered the kind of tension expected between two experienced international players. Neither player managed to establish a clear lead for most of the game. The score remained tightly balanced as both exchanged points through long, physically demanding rallies.
At 16-16, the match could have gone either way. Then Christie appeared to seize control.
The Indonesian grabbed two quick points to move ahead 18-16 and suddenly looked positioned to close out the match. But what followed became the defining sequence of the contest.
Prannoy responded with five consecutive points. Against the World No. 5.
Under pressure.
The Indian elevated his intensity once again during the closing stages while Christie surprisingly tightened up under pressure. Prannoy attacked decisively, controlled the net better and capitalised on crucial errors from the Indonesian. Within moments, the Indian completed a remarkable turnaround and sealed the decider 21-18.
This victory carries major significance for Prannoy personally and also for Indian badminton overall. Over the last couple of seasons, India’s senior men’s singles players have struggled for consistency against the world’s top 10. Lakshya Sen, Kidambi Srikanth and Prannoy have all shown quality in phases, but big wins against elite opponents have become increasingly difficult to sustain regularly. That is why defeating a player like Jonatan Christie matters enormously.
Christie remains one of the most physically complete players on the BWF Tour and entered the tournament as one of the favourites. For Prannoy to recover from such a one-sided opening game and still win speaks volumes about his experience and mental toughness.
India also enjoyed success in mixed doubles as Dhruv Kapila and Tanisha Crasto advanced to the Round of 16 with a hard-fought victory over Malaysia’s Wong Tien Ci and Lim Chiew Sien. The Indian pair won 21-14, 20-22, 21-13 in a competitive three-game battle. Dhruv and Tanisha looked comfortable during the opening game, controlling the pace and attacking effectively around the net. However, the Malaysians responded strongly in the second game and edged a tense finish 22-20 to force a decider.
The Indian duo, though, regained control quickly in the third game and closed out the contest convincingly. The result continues the pair’s steady improvement on the international circuit, where they are increasingly establishing themselves as one of India’s most reliable mixed doubles combinations.
Interestingly, the mixed doubles draw now appears more open than expected. Dhruv and Tanisha are set to face Japanese stars Yuta Watanabe and Maya Taguchi next. While the Japanese pair remain favourites, recent tournament results have shown vulnerabilities in the draw. And after Tuesday’s performances, India will certainly believe more upsets are possible.
For Indian fans, however, the biggest story remains HS Prannoy. At a stage where many expected younger Indian players to fully take over, Prannoy continues producing performances that remind everyone why he remains one of the country’s most dangerous tournament players. He may no longer compete with the same physical explosiveness as earlier in his career. But the firepower, tactical intelligence and fighting spirit are still very much there.
And on Tuesday in Singapore, World No. 5 Jonatan Christie felt every bit of it.
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