HS Prannoy, who had an impressive first half of the season, feels that finding ways to win the tight opening round clashes have been crucial for him to enjoy a good run of late.
The 25-year-old shuttler, who had a sticky one-year spell when he managed to reach just the one Final — Swiss Open in March 2016, ended that streak after clinching the US Open, beating compatriot Parupalli Kashyap 21-15, 20-22, 21-12 in July this year.
Staying 100 percent fit is one reason that has helped him play at this level, but Prannoy thinks there are others reasons too for his late revival.
"Sometimes you hit the form at the right time, couple of matches here and there if it goes in your way, you end up in the semifinal and Final," he told The Pioneer.
"Sometimes you lose very close matches in first round in so many tournaments like 21-19. That's a big loss then you can't go forward in a big tournament. So for me and others we had couple of good tournaments with couple of good initial rounds where we could win it and gradually get into quarters and semis then have a good result.
"So I think the initial rounds are very crucial. Once you start winning, it will be a little bit more easier to play in the tournament as you know how to get that particular win. Now we are little bit better in that aspect," he explained.
Confidence is another reason which has played a big part for the Thiruvananthapuram lad.
From where did he get itIJ Two big wins against former World No 1 lee Chong Wei of Malaysia and Olympic Gold medallist Chen long of China in successive rounds to enter the Indonesia Super Series Premier semifinals in June this year was that massive confidence boost for Prannoy.
"Indonesia happened a little bit before the US Open victory, and it was very crucial. I think Indonesia was decisive as it was a tough draw for me. I won two good matches against lee Chong Wei and Chen long which gave me lot of confidence.
"And that I could carry it to the US Open and also in New Zealand, where I played really well but couldn't win that quarterfinal match. I think US and New Zealand were really good because that performance in Indonesia was really good," he explained.
So no surprises when he rated the performance in Indonesia higher than the title he clinched in the United States.
"Winning a tournament is always special but I just feel things which helped me to win a tournament are even more special so I think Indonesia Open was really crucial for me in that aspect. That gave me a lot of confidence to do well in US and New Zealand," he said.
So what next for Prannoy this yearIJ
"Top-10 is a possible target I would say. Couple of good tournaments in the next 6-7 tournaments can be enough to get me into Top-10 — that's the current aim right now," said the current World No 18.
Prannoy, who is training at the Gopichand Badminton Academy in Hyderabad, is pleased to see Saina Nehwal returning to the academy.
"It's a good thing. It's going to be helpful for her also. Everyone is training over here and it will also be easy for her to improve her game from the current level to the next level," he said.
The 25-year-old, who is also being coached by the Indonesian coach Mulyo Handoyo in the academy, had lot of good things to say about him.
"In so many tournaments he is very helpful when you need that correct guidance. Overall he is helping all of us in men's singles and women's singles too. So in the next couple of years, it should be even better with the way he has been helping us," concluded Prannoy.