Treesa-Gayatri, Kidambi Srikanth reach Syed Modi finals; Japanese Kaho-Mai and Jason Gunawan their respective opponents

Top seeds Treesa-Gayatri, defending champions at Lucknow, defeated Carmen Ting and Ong Yin Xee 21-11, 21-15, taking turns to push both Malaysians back and pinging drops to the front court. Treesa, who lost the mixed doubles semis with Hariharan Amsakarunan, was sharper in her front court stomp, result of the mixed paired event she’s been playing all season. Gayatri, heavily strapped and returning after a precautionary break and sturdy rehab from her niggles, rotated reasonably well, falling back to smash, but they were barely troubled, save for their own rustiness as a pair that they’ve slowly shed this week.

Kidambi Srikanth, seeded 5th, who last won the Syed Modi in 2016, was tested by compatriot, and former national champ, Mithun Manjunath. “Mithun always plays well with me, and he has been playing well given he reached the semis,” Srikanth told UPBA, after his 21-15, 19-21, 21-13 win, pushing almost 60 minutes.

Brother Nandagopal said that whenever he sets off to play a tournament, Srikanth’s family and friends silently hope he will strike that elusive momentum. “It’s not easy to maintain form and confidence through injuries. He stays normal and doesn’t react to setbacks and works hard with same mindset. But he wants to prove a point that he can achieve a comeback. So, we silently hope that the strokrplay and aggression gets him going,” he says.

A good indicator of Srikanth being I the zone is when he dominates the attack, and takes that killer stride to the net to scythe the shuttle. Ranked 38 now, he will need to get that cracking against Indonesian Jason Gunawan, ranked No 59. “There was some drift, not uncontrollable. Beech mein thoda idhar udhar. But I needed to get a good start which I did, without too many errors,” he said of the Mithun win.

Gunawan benefitted from Minoru Kogu’s retirement in semis, but has beaten Misha Zilberman, Kiran George and Magnus Johannesen with a late surge. Srikanth has beaten him twice, but he’s a sticky opponent. “Losses don’t mess with his head much, because getting back to normal after injury is mentally more taxing, but we aim that he gets that champion mindset,” Nandagopal says.

For Treesa-Gayatri, the Japanese Kaho Osawa-Mai Tanabe won’t be easy, Gayatri said. “We’ll have to be patient,” she added, “It’s good to be back in finals after a long time.”

Treesa has hammered along, using the time away from the international circuit while Gayatri tended to her injuries, by propping up mixed doubles skills. Word from Hyderabad is that she’s increasingly developed a combative mindset, by challenging male players to pit their various stroke skills against her in practice.

“Treesa’s very hungry for results. And with her middle class background, she has that champion mindset of wanting to prove herself,” says coach Sumeeth Reddy. “Her father keeps her motivated telling her she’s no less than any player I the world, not even boys. She often challenges men to smashes and beats them too. But playing mixed, she’s developed more daring on the front court,” Reddy says. “It’s tough in doubles unlike singles when partner is injured. But like Satwik-Chirag these two have shown loyalty, and kudos to Treesa, she’s kept her fitness and been patient,” he adds.

On Saturday, the duo were far more clearer in their rotations, though their placement tactics will get tested by the Japanese, perennial retrievers, ranked No 35.

For Gayatri, a longer break was needed to tend to niggles so that the return wasn’t tentative. “Slow start, regaining confidence but back of mind, injuries can play with the mind. She’s been diligent with constant rehab and icing, working towards this,” Reddy said.

Their challenges are completely opposite, though winning is the common goal. “For Gayatri, she has the baggage of being Gopi sir’s daughter. So even reaching Top 10 won’t be enough (No 14 currently) to fulfill expectations which are always about winning All England. She carries that baggage calmly. These are small steps. But it has to be one stroke, one rally, one point, one match at a time,” he explains.

Treesa was asked if they were ready to defend their title. “Why not?” she said. Two comebacks await the chef’s kiss.