Overview
- Nishimoto prevailed 21-19, 14-21, 21-12 in 77 minutes at the BWF Super 500 event in Kumamoto on Saturday.
- Sen was India’s last contender after HS Prannoy’s second-round loss to Rasmus Gemke, so the semifinal defeat closed the country’s campaign.
- The result leveled the Nishimoto–Sen head-to-head at 3-3 after Sen had led 3-2 entering the match.
- Reports noted long rallies, momentum swings and signs of discomfort for Sen, including a slip at the net and his coach massaging his left thigh during the decider.
- Sen reached the last four by defeating former world champion Loh Kean Yew 21-13, 21-17, yet ranking trackers indicate this loss leaves him short of the World Tour Finals cutoff.