I was constantly playing catch-up: Lakshya

For once, Lakshya Sen didn’t have an answer to his opponent’s game, on or off the court. Garret Tan dominated the second-round match against the Indian World No. 14 and Lakshya admitted there was little he could do.

“It was a good match, lot of credit to Tan, he played a solid game. Towards the end of the 3rd game, both of us were completely exhausted. I gave my all but it wasn’t enough and I am a little disappointed,” Lakshya admitted after the match.

“He was dominant throughout and I was constantly playing cover up with the points. I had my chances but was always under pressure. Both his attack and defence were solid,” he added.

Garret, meanwhile, was still trying to recover from an on-court medical concern and the biggest win of his career. “I went for a slide and hit my head a little bit and wasn’t feeling very well but I am speechless right now. I just wanted to go and play my best without thinking of who was in front of me,” the 18-year-old said.

Asked about where the game changed, Garret’s response revealed he had done his homework. “In the 3rd game, I kept hitting on one side and he kept preparing and then last few points, I just changed direction and it worked,” he said. “I was supposed to leave on Friday but I guess…,” he laughed but the words left unsaid spoke a lot.