New Delhi, Nov. 23 -- A fluent Lakshya Sen ended his title drought on international circuit as the Indian clinched his first title of the year with a win over Japan's Yushi Tanaka in the men's single final of the Australian Open on Sunday. After finishing fourth at the Paris Olympics 20254, the 24-year-old won 21-15, 21-11 over 26-year-old Tanaka.

Lakshya, a 2021 World Championships bronze-medallist, had last won a Super 300 title at the Syed Modi International in Lucknow in 2024. After the match point following a 38-minute ordeal, the Indian celebrated his USD 475,000 Super 500 event by putting his fingers in his ears.

However, a top-tier crown had eluded him since his triumph at the Canada Open the same year, though he came close at t...