Kidambi Srikanth vs Kento Momota, Denmark Open Semi-final: Momota Wins 21-16, 21-12

MOMOTA WINS: That's it. Momota has won the semifinal rather convincingly 21-16, 21-16 and has beaten the Indian yet again this year. But all is not for India as Saina Nehwal plays next. 

Srikanth has looked totally out of sorts. He has had no answer for Momota's cross-court smashes. Just brilliant by the Japanese. It's 18-11 in the second game. 

Momota is so confident at this point that he is effortlessly swatting away even the good shots that Kidambi is throwing his way. Have to feel a bit for the Indian here but his opponent is on another level right now. 

Momota is clearly on top now and is cruising towards a straight games win. Unless Srikanth can cut out the errors and suddenly experience a turnaround, he's exiting this tournament. 

Momota makes it 11-7 in the mid-game interval. This is great play by the Japanse. Srikanth on the other hand has lost his steam.

Even luck hasn't been with Srikanth. The Indian leaves the shuttle in the hope that it was going out. But it somehow falls in. The lead is growing for Momota. It's 9-5.

Yet again Momota has taken the lead after a good start by the Indian.  The score reads 6-4 for Momota. 

Srikanth starts well with two back-to-back points in the second game but till now hasn't instilled a lot of confidence that he can win. And Momota makes it 2-2. 

Momota has taken the first game rather convincingly 21-16. Even though Srikanth started well, he han't been able to convert it to a good start.  The Indian needs to do a better job in the second game. 

Momota is punishing Srikanth for some laxity. The Indian has suddenly given him away some easy points. The Japanese leads 18-13. 

Momota is using the sidelines really well. When Srikanth is on the backcourt, he is using the sidelines to smash. Momota moves to 15-12. 

Excellent by Momota here. He has got seven points on the trot now and leads 13-10. Srikanth goes up to his coach for a quick chat. 

MID-GAME INTERVAL: There has been nothing to choose between the two players. Momota leads 11-10 at the moment. 

Now Momota strikes back with powerful body shots to make it 9-9. You just cannot take a breather against Momota.

This is good period of play for Srikanth as he gets four points back to back. He is putting Momota under pressure. A good start by the Indian. It's 9-6.

Coach Siyadutt is guiding Srikanth for the next point from the sidelines. One thing with him is that he will watch Srikanth's opponent closely and guide the player. Srikanth in lead with 7-6. 

Yet another powerful smash by Srikanth down the line. This shot is getting good results for him till now. It's 5-5 currently. 

After Momota gets two points, Srikanth comes up with a cross court smash to get one back. Momota leads 4-3. 

Once again Srikanth is deceived by a back court shot by Momota that just drops in. The score is level at 2-2. The Indian cannot afford to give easy points. 

Srikanth serves and loses the point. That happens with Momota too. It's 1-1 in the first game. 

Both the players are on the court and are warming up. Srikanth will have to defend well against Momota. One thing is for sure that Momota will attack Srikanth close to the net, and the Indian will have to be wary of it.  

Okay so now women's doubles match has ended and next on the centre court is Srikanth vs Momota. Fingers crossed. 

DANISA DENMARK OPEN 2018 | Badminton MD - SF - Highlights #badminton #HSBCBWFbadminton pic.twitter.com/NLC4LxCL8a

— BWF (@bwfmedia) October 20, 2018

On the other hand world number 1 Momota is the playing like a dream. He has already won five titles this year including world championships and other team events. He would be eyeing nothing less than a title in Denmark too. 

Srikanth, after a great 2017, hasn't enjoyed much success this year. Last year, where he made five finals, he has not managed even one in 2018. That all could change in today's game as the Indian has displayed good form in this tournament beating the likes of Lin Dan and Vittinghus. 

Ever since Momota's return to the circuit this year, Srikanth hasn't been able to win against him. In fact he has lost 3 matches against Momota out of the four played. Let's wait and watch what happens today. 

Hello and welcome to the live blog of the semifinal match between Kidambi Srikanth and Kento Momota. Later in the day Saina Nehwal will face off against Gregoria M of Indonesia, to it a lot to look forward to for India.