Ayush Shetty defeats top seed in US Open 2025 semifinals

In a stunning badminton upset, young Indian singles player Ayush Shetty has advanced to the US Open 2025 final after defeating the top seed at the Mid-America Centre, Iowa.

The 20-year-old player — who won bronze at the 2023 World Junior Championships — overcame Chou Tien Chen from Taiwan in a rubber game match lasting over an hour in this Super 300 tournament.

Chou Tien Chen — the former world number two now aged 35 — has maintained his high level by reaching the Indonesia Open final earlier this month, and holds a dominant record against Jonatan Christie with five wins in their last six encounters.

Shetty’s potential was evident in last year’s junior world championships — where he only stopped in the semifinals against Indonesia’s Alwi Farhan who went on to become champion.