Srikanth saved a match point to beat Brice Leverdez 7-21, 21-14, 22-20 in the first round.
20:35 (IST)14 MAR 2018
#AllEnglandSuper1000 @srikidambi drops 1st game at 7, stages comeback to scrape past France's Brice LEVERDEZ, who he was playing for first time, win next two at 21-14 and 23-21. Phew. It was tense
— Sunil Warrier (@SunilWarrier1) March 14, 2018
20:35 (IST)14 MAR 2018
Now that was as close as it can get for @srikidambi he kept nerve and managed to eke it out. Should do him real good. #AllEngland
— Boria Majumdar (@BoriaMajumdar) March 14, 2018
20:35 (IST)14 MAR 2018
Y u do dis @srikidambi?! 😅😅 #AllEnglandSuper1000
— Jaideep Vaidya (@jaideepjourno) March 14, 2018
20:34 (IST)14 MAR 2018
And thats how you grab the diamond and run out of the lions mouth! The cheer never stops here. Well played @srikidambi
— Vidhya Venkat (@happeehopie) March 14, 2018
20:32 (IST)14 MAR 2018
What a close match @srikidambi, man dont give us more scares, all the best for further rounds #AllEngland 🏸
— M Shiv Shankar 🇮🇳 (@mshivs) March 14, 2018
20:31 (IST)14 MAR 2018
Absolutely not convincing win...he won those last 2 points coz Brice was in haste and sent the shuttle wide. If he doesn't settle into matches soon enough, he is going to be in trouble. Still far away from the Srikanth we know! :(
— Sudeshna Banerjee (@Sudsports) March 14, 2018
20:25 (IST)14 MAR 2018
Shebba. That was one heck of a first round match (largely thanks to a haphazard performance from Srikanth) - but hey, he has the win. Onwards.#AllEnglandChampionships
— Vinayakk (@vinayakkm) March 14, 2018
20:25 (IST)14 MAR 2018
Srikanth scrapes through the first round 7-21, 21-14, 22-20 after Brice Leverdez makes two errors on the smash. This win should help Srikanth get over his nerves and play his natural game from the next round of the #AllEngland2018
— Abhijeet Kulkarni (@abk6580) March 14, 2018
20:25 (IST)14 MAR 2018
Srikanth gave heart attack like Sindhu usually does!! Fought through to pull it off!!
— Kavita Choudhary (@4holidaymaniacs) March 14, 2018
20:24 (IST)14 MAR 2018
Very uncharacteristic game from Srikanth though. Not sure how to read this change in style. Is it a conscious choice to use the signature smash sparingly or was he just not confident early in the tournament?
— cornerd (@cornerd) March 14, 2018
20:24 (IST)14 MAR 2018
**** that was some scare man. Srikanth wins 3rd set 22-20 after trailing 19-20. Remember, Brice Leverdez has capability to cause major upsets. Had defeated LCW in 1st round of World Championships. I hop the bad is over for Srikanth.@chefficiency
— Sambit Nayak (@sambitlnt) March 14, 2018
20:24 (IST)14 MAR 2018
Srikanth survives a tie many, including me, thought he should have cruised through. He beats Brice Leverdez 7-21, 21-14, 22-20 in the opener. #AllEnglandSuper1000
— Naveen Peter (@peterspeaking) March 14, 2018
20:24 (IST)14 MAR 2018
Wow srikanth!!!!!! Saved a match point to win 22-20 . Deriving from past, such matches create champions.#YAE18 #YonexAllEngland
— Detective platypus (@Detectiveplaty2) March 14, 2018
20:23 (IST)14 MAR 2018
YASSSS
— steven (@bamaboy0) March 14, 2018
Kidambi Srikanth, what a win to have in such a terrific nail biting finish#AllEnglandSuper1000
20:22 (IST)14 MAR 2018
And Srikanth edges past Brice 7-21, 21-14, 22-20 to enter the second round...
— Shivam Damohe (@mancpunk) March 14, 2018
What a fight by the Frenchman to put World No 3 Srikanth under pressure but at the end, it was the Indian shuttler who made the most of his chances#AllEnglandOpen
20:22 (IST)14 MAR 2018
Srikanth just escaped heartbreak #allengland2018
— pawan (@sporty_pawan) March 14, 2018
20:22 (IST)14 MAR 2018
That was a nervous first round match from Srikanth against @BriceLeverdez1! Well done though, as Srikanth now moves into the last 16! @srikidambi #AllEnglandSuper1000 #AllEngland2018 #allenglandopen #AllEngland #YAE18 #HSBCBWFbadminton #badminton #HSBCBWFWorldTour
— Abhi Jain (@abhijain298) March 14, 2018
20:22 (IST)14 MAR 2018
Phew, in a gruelling encounter no 3 seed Srikanth Kidambi survives a deadly scare against Brice Leverdez of France 7-21 21-14 22-20#AllEnglandSuper1000
— anjali banerjee (@anjali_banerjee) March 14, 2018
20:21 (IST)14 MAR 2018
KIDAMBI Srikanth survives !!!!! KIDAMBI Srikanth overcame Brice LEVERDEZ hurdle 7-21,21-14,22-20 in a thriller to reach 2nd round at #AllEngland2018 pic.twitter.com/g2072PfY3R
— tanmoypaul (@tanmoy_sports) March 14, 2018
20:21 (IST)14 MAR 2018
Ohhhh....finally srikanth won the match.....from leading 11-6 up in the decider to trailing 18-19 to winning it 22-20...a good confidence booster....now just continue winning srikanth bhai.....
— india_badminton (@india_badminton) March 14, 2018
20:20 (IST)14 MAR 2018
Well played Kidambi Srikanth - congratulations on winning the opening match at #AllEnglandSuper1000
— Debu (@debasish_mishra) March 14, 2018
20:19 (IST)14 MAR 2018
@badmintonupdate K Srikanth wins his first round by the skin of his teeth - very scratchy and he had to improve by leaps & bounds if he is to reach/ win the finals. Best of Luck!!
— Ranjith Kumar Lall (@Ranjithlall) March 14, 2018
20:15 (IST)14 MAR 2018
Super Comeback by Srikanth 🙏
— Amit Bhilwade (@ab619cricket) March 14, 2018
20:14 (IST)14 MAR 2018
Good close hard fought win by Kidambi Srikanth in #AllEngland 🇮🇳👍
— Rohan R Shanbhag (@rony619619) March 14, 2018
20:13 (IST)14 MAR 2018
Those slow starts can soon become quite costly for Kidambi Srikanth. He would have found no way back against a more accomplished opponent. Even in the decider, he suddenly lost his way and looked full of doubts. Good to see him save match point but a lot of work needs to be done!
— Sudeshna Banerjee (@Sudsports) March 14, 2018