Soon after winning the Canada Open Super Series 500, Lakshya Sen spoke about the spectacular finish, from being 16-20 down to winning it 22-20 in the second game.
We had spoken on Sunday evening, India time, and the plan was to catch up after the final. Neither of us mentioned the wished-for result or even alluded to it. It isn’t right to speak about such things ahead of a big final. But Lakshya had sounded quietly confident. He seemed in a good space and had played some terrific matches coming into the final. There was reason to believe he would continue his better head-to-head record against Li Shifeng of China, the current All England Champion. But then it wass impossible to think that he’d make a spectacular comeback from 16-20 in the second game and close out the match and the championship with six straight points. And that was inevitably the first question when he called me exactly an hour after the match had ended at about 5:45am India time.
Excerpts from the conversation:
Boria: From 16-20 to 22-20. Some fantastic points there and, more importantly, the self-belief to be able to do it. Take me through those few minutes.
Lakshya: (Laughs). Thank you very much. Yes, it was a very good period of play and I am glad I was able to do it. I was constantly telling myself I had to close it out in two games, and did not want to take it to the decider. And even when it was 15-17 in the second game, at no point did I feel I wasn’t going to be able to make it. I was conscious that it was possible and with some good points I could get equal again. I am glad it happened, and I was able to close it. In fact when it was 20-20, I felt it was an opportunity and I did not want to let it go. It worked for me. That first point at 20-20 was a good one, and it helped set up the Championship point.
Boria: First title of the year. It should give you a lot of confidence. With the Olympic qualification cycle on, this should get you back in the top 15, think top 12, and more importantly give you the self-belief going forward.
Lakshya: Yes, absolutely. While I had played a few good matches here and there, I had not played a series of good matches consistently this year. That consistency was lacking, and that’s why I hadn’t won a tournament. I had even taken a break in between to regain my focus back, and I remember speaking to you then about this. All of this week, I was able to play well consistently, and string together a number of good matches from the very first round. It does give me a lot of confidence going forward, and I think I can now use this momentum to keep the good rhythm going in the next few weeks. When you get into a good space and a good period of play, it is critical to keep it going. I think this win will allow me to do that going forward.
Boria: At the start of the match, there were a number of points where Li Shifeng set things up, and closed it with a big smash to your backhand. But then, you plugged that gap and took control at the net. Was it something you adjusted to, and was there communication from Anup [Sridhar] from your corner?
Lakshya: Yes, for the points he was controlling, he was winning them with big smashes after I lifted to his forehand. I conceded a few points that way, and it was important not to let him take advantage. If you see, I did not give him too many opportunities thereafter. I was able to take control of the net and each time he was lifting, I was able to close out with smashes. Good net play was very important, and I think that’s where I did well in the final.
Coming to Anup bhaiya, the more he sits in my matches, the better we will get. We have already started developing a very good partnership, and we had a very good strategy going into the final. With time, our pairing will only get better.
Boria: Physically, you looked the fitter player. Despite playing a tough quarter-final and a three-game semi-final, it was great to see.
Lakshya: Yes, and I should give credit to my new trainer who I have been working with in the last two and a half months. I had worked with him for a period in 2020, but then because of Covid, we couldn’t continue. Now that we are back working together again, it has helped me a lot. I should also give credit to Darshan and Heath [Matthews] for the work they have done with me in making me a fitter player in the last few months. They have worked on my recovery after every match, and it meant that when I stepped on court the next day, I did not feel tight or feel tired. After each match, I had taken the ice bath and it takes about two or two and a half hours for the full recovery to get done. And it is hugely important when you are playing every day and playing a series of tough matches.
Boria: So, what’s the plan now? Where are you going for dinner, and how will you celebrate?
Lakshya: Yes, the plan is to go to Stampede, the world’s largest Rodeo festival, which is on at the moment in Calgary. I had planned for it if I won, and we will go there shortly. We will all celebrate there, and then we travel to the US tomorrow. I will have the Tuesday as one break day, and then again I play in the US on Wednesday. As I said to you, this win should give me the confidence to have another good tournament, and I am actually looking forward to playing in the US this week. But for the moment, it will be the Stampede festival!