Sydney, Australia – In a disappointing turn of events at the Australian Open 2025, India's top-seeded men's doubles pair, Chirag Shetty and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy, were ousted in the quarter-finals by the fifth-seeded Indonesian duo of Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Shohibul Fikri. The match, which lasted 50 minutes, concluded with a score of 21-19, 21-15 in favor of the Indonesians.

The Indian pair, ranked third in the world, entered the tournament as top seeds and were expected to put up a strong showing. Their journey to the quarter-finals included a hard-fought victory against the Chinese Taipei pair of Chang Ko-chi and Po Li-wei in the round of 32, where they saved three game points in the opener to win 25-23, 21-16. They then secured their quarterfinal spot by defeating Su Ching Heng and Wu Guan Xun with a 21-18, 21-11 victory.

However, the in-form Alfian and Fikri, a relatively new pairing that has rapidly ascended to world No. 13, proved to be a formidable challenge. The Indonesian duo has demonstrated impressive form, winning the China Open Super 1000 and finishing as runners-up at the Denmark, Korea, and French Opens in a short period.

In the quarter-final match, Shetty and Rankireddy initially took a promising 7-2 lead in the first game. However, the Indonesians gradually clawed their way back, leveling the score at 16-all. Despite the Indian pair holding a 19-17 advantage, Alfian and Fikri surged ahead, securing four consecutive points to clinch the first game.

The second game saw a tight contest, with the Asian Games champions, Shetty and Rankireddy, holding a narrow one-point lead at the interval. However, the fifth-seeded Indonesians elevated their game after the restart, winning the game comfortably and securing the match victory.

This defeat marks the first encounter between Shetty-Rankireddy and Alfian-Fikri. It also marks the second consecutive BWF World Tour event in 2025 where the Indian pair has been eliminated by an Indonesian duo.

With Shetty and Rankireddy's exit, Lakshya Sen remains the sole Indian contender in the BWF Super 500 event. Sen advanced to the semi-finals after defeating fellow Indian Ayush Shetty in their quarter-final match. Ayush Shetty had previously progressed to the quarter-finals after a straight-game victory over World No.9 Kodai Naraoka.

The focus now shifts to Lakshya Sen, who carries India's hopes in the ongoing Australian Open 2025.