In his 12-21, 21-19, 21-14 loss to Lu Guang Zu of China at Odense, Lakshya Sen discovered 5 rallies to overthink / swap off and cede momentum. That was from main 21-12, 16-11 within the second set – simply 5 factors away from a gettable victory – to stepping into such a psychological funk that each his shot choice and confidence plummeted to the ground. Halfway by means of the third, it was a misplaced trigger.
Publish his second straight first-round exit, this time at Denmark Open, after going out in Spherical of 32 at Finland final week, Sen is wanting completely misplaced. His method of drawing out defeats from seemingly winnable positions, is an previous drawback. On the Olympics it was exacerbated towards each Viktor Axelsen and Lee Zii Jia, due to the blinding highlight of the event, with a medal at stake. However autumnal Denmark in a Tour occasion couldn’t presumably pose the identical debilitating strain?
So, what ails Sen, on the ultimate stretch in a match, when he’s wretchedly near profitable? His health – although rusty nonetheless from simply re-entering the aggressive orbit – isn’t a serious concern, and first rounds are hardly causes to be drained. The simple reply can be, psychological brittleness – ship him off to his psychologist once more. But it surely simply doesn’t sq. up with the upset wins he nicks off again and again, when hanging off a cliff, like when he was struggling to qualify for the Olympics.
However Sen actually suffers from ending blues – they strike actually, when he’s cruising. It’s not the standard complacency of not placing in sufficient work fee in lengthy rallies. He actually prolongs rallies to restore his positions, when in the midst of these shot-circuit phases. However his game-brain undoubtedly freezes, goes right into a limbo, and he lapses into enjoying defensively, hoping the rhythm of when he was main will proceed uninterrupted.
Besides, in entrance of him is an opponent. Who inevitably throws the kitchen sink at Sen, and digs in his heels, and runs the claws over a blackboard – principally play a sport to disrupt Sen. The Indian has typically struggled to counter these determined counters.
Lu Guang Zu is not any mug. And it was to be anticipated that he would battle again. And having come so near profitable, cruising, earlier than dropping the second 19-21, Sen simply couldn’t drag himself again into the battle within the third.
Lakshya Sen’s issues would possibly look psychological and get misdiagnosed as smugness. However there’s a tactical confidence disaster or confusion that kicks in at that stage, as he loses among the bravado and proactive offense, and eases the foot on the pedal. Then these like Lu Guang Zu fortunately take management of his brakes.
