Sydney: Kidambi Srikanth became only the fifth player in the world to contest three successive Super Series finals as he beat China's Shi Yuqi 21-10, 21-14 to book a final spot at the Australian Open, here on Saturday. Srikanth had earlier reached the finals in Singapore and Indonesia.
Srikanth continued with his winning spree as he outclassed All England finalist Shi in a 37-minute match. Srikanth had earlier beaten the Chinese at the quarters of the Singapore Open in April.
Srikanth will now either play reigning Olympic champion or two-time World champion and All England champion Chen Long or Korea's Lee Hyun II in the finals.
In the first game, Shi Yuqi was neck-to-neck with Srikanth at 4-4 but thereafter, the Indian shuttler upped his ante and opened a 16-10 lead, wrapping up the game with taking five consecutive points.
In the second game too the Chinese shuttler held Srikanth at 7-7, but thereafter Srikanth streaked to 15-8 lead. Though Shi Yuqi tried to close the gap, Srikanth closed out the game and the match.
