El Monte (California), July 10 (IANS) Ajay Jayaram of India crashed out of the US Open badminton tournament after suffering a straight-game loss to Japan's Kanta Tsuneyama in the semi-finals of the men's singles category here on Sunday.
The fourth seeded Jayaram was no match for his opponent and went down 10-21, 14-21 in the last-four clash which lasted just 33 minutes at Los Angeles Badminton Club.
Tsuneyama imposed his domination right at the start of the opening game, taking a 4-2 lead. Jayaram managed to draw level at 6-6, but Tsuneyama regained the lead at 8-7 and reeled off 10 consecutive points to take a decisive lead in the first game.
Jayaram played better in the second game, clinching a 3-1 lead early on. But Tsuneyama fought back and it was a neck to neck affair till 14-14 when the Japanese sealed the issue by notching up seven consecutive points.
--IANS
ajb/vt
