World tour finals

Chou Tien Chen: Lakshya Sen ended his title drought by clinching the Super 500 Australian Open on Sunday, comfortably defeating Japan’s Yushi Tanaka 21-15, 21-11 in one of the most straightforward finals of his career. After sealing the victory, he gestured for silence by placing his index fingers in his ears and closing his eyes, a nod to the intense week he had just navigated.

This marks Sen’s third Super 500 title, and he capitalised on his second final appearance of the year after falling short in Hong Kong. It was a lively week in which Sen overcame compatriot Ayush Shetty and Chou Tien Chen in challenging, closely contested matches.

The final, by contrast, was straightforward. After spending 85 minutes on court in the semifinal, Sen faced a far more accommodating opponent in Tanaka. Struggling with accuracy and prone to errors, Tanaka repeatedly misfired on his smashes and fumbled what he intended as delicate touches.