Senthilkumar Upset in London Open Quarterfinals
His quarterfinal defeat ends the London Open run and raises questions about whether recent Copper-level wins will translate at higher-tier events.
Overview
- Velavan Senthilkumar was beaten by France’s Amir Khaled-Jousselin in the London Open quarterfinals, losing in straight games 11-13, 6-11, 7-11.
- The defeat followed Senthilkumar’s second-round win over Paraguay’s Francesco Marcantonio, which he took 11-5, 11-7, 14-12 after a first-round bye.
- This London Open result comes after Senthilkumar won two PSA Copper-level titles this year, including the USD 35,000 Czech Open and the Budapest Open, signaling a strong run of form on the PSA tour.
- Fellow Indian Ayaan Vaziralli was eliminated in the London Open first round by Ben Smith, who recovered to win 6-11, 13-11, 6-11, 11-4, 11-7, giving the Indian contingent mixed results at the event.
- Beyond individual match outcomes, Senthilkumar’s season also includes two bronze medals from the 2026 Asian Games, and the quarterfinal loss highlights the test he faces in converting Copper-level success into results at higher-tier tournaments ahead of the 2028 Olympic cycle.