Rounak Chouhan stuns World No. 6 Chou Tien Chen at US Open 2025
Synopsis
Ranked 80 in the world and just 18 years old, Rounak Chouhan walked into the US Open and knocked out the top seed — World No. 6 Chou Tien Chen — saving four match points in a pulsating second game. India now has four players in the quarterfinals, with Chouhan's run emerging as the tournament's standout story.
Key Takeaways
Rounak Chouhan (World No.
80) defeated top seed Chou Tien Chen (World No.
6) 21-17, 26-24 at the US Open Badminton 2025 in Fullerton on 26 June .
The 18-year-old completed the upset in 49 minutes , saving four game points in the second game.
Chouhan next faces Misha Zilberman of Israel in the quarterfinals.
Women's singles — Tanvi Sharma , Rakshitha Sree , and Devika Sihag — also advanced to the last eight.
Kidambi Srikanth beat Lee Zii Jia of Malaysia 21-14, 21-13 , capping a dominant day for India.
India's Rounak Chouhan pulled off the biggest upset of the US Open Badminton 2025 in Fullerton, California on 26 June, dismantling men's singles top seed and World No. 6 Chou Tien Chen of Chinese Taipei in straight games — 21-17, 26-24 — to storm into the quarterfinals. The 18-year-old, ranked World No. 80, completed the win in just 49 minutes, setting up a last-eight clash against Misha Zilberman of Israel.
How Chouhan Dismantled the Top Seed
Chouhan, a member of India's bronze medal-winning World Junior team, kept the pressure high from the opening rally. Though Chou edged ahead at 17-15 in the first game, Chouhan reeled off six consecutive points to seal it. The second game was even more dramatic — Chou surged to a commanding 17-11 lead before Chouhan, once again, strung together six straight points to level the score. A tense finish followed, with Chouhan saving four game points before converting his second match point to clinch the contest.
A Tournament Built on Momentum
Chouhan's run to the quarterfinals did not begin at the main draw. In the qualifiers, he beat France's Enogat Roy 21-19, 21-16, then came from a set down to defeat Chinese Taipei's Kuo Kuan Lin 13-21, 21-14, 21-10. He then navigated an all-Indian contest in the main draw, edging former World Junior Championships silver medallist S Sankar Muthusamy 23-21, 21-16, before toppling the top seed to reach the last eight.
Indian Women Also Advance in Force
Three Indian women shuttlers joined Chouhan in the quarterfinals. Fifth seed Tanvi Sharma, a world junior silver medallist, defeated Tung Ciou-Tong of Chinese Taipei 21-12, 21-19. Rakshitha Sree got past Tung's compatriot Chen Su Yu 21-4, 21-19, while sixth seed Devika Sihag overcame Thailand's Tonrug Saeheng 21-17, 21-19.
Srikanth Caps a Dominant Day for India
Veteran shuttler Kidambi Srikanth rounded off an impressive day for the Indian contingent, defeating Lee Zii Jia of Malaysia in commanding fashion — 21-14, 21-13. India now has multiple players across both draws in the last eight, underlining the depth of a generation that has come of age on the junior circuit. With Chouhan facing Zilberman next, the young Indian will look to continue one of the tournament's most compelling stories.
Point of View
Survived an all-Indian contest, and then dismantled the tournament's top seed with a composure that belies his age and ranking. What is notable is the pattern: India's World Junior bronze-medal cohort is now converting junior pedigree into senior results on the BWF circuit. The real question is whether the support structure — coaching, scheduling, recovery — can sustain this momentum through the more gruelling legs of the international calendar.
NationPress
26 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Rounak Chouhan and why is his US Open win significant?
Rounak Chouhan is an 18-year-old Indian badminton player ranked World No. 80, who was part of India's bronze medal-winning World Junior team. His win over top seed Chou Tien Chen (World No. 6) at the US Open 2025 is considered the biggest upset of the tournament so far.
What was the scoreline of Chouhan's win over Chou Tien Chen?
Chouhan defeated Chou Tien Chen 21-17, 26-24 in straight games, completing the match in 49 minutes. He saved four game points in the second game before converting his second match point.
Who does Rounak Chouhan face in the US Open quarterfinals?
Chouhan will face Misha Zilberman of Israel in the quarterfinals of the US Open Badminton 2025 in Fullerton.
Which other Indian players reached the US Open quarterfinals?
Tanvi Sharma, Rakshitha Sree, and Devika Sihag all advanced to the women's singles quarterfinals. Kidambi Srikanth also progressed with a 21-14, 21-13 win over Lee Zii Jia of Malaysia.
How did Chouhan qualify for the US Open main draw?
Chouhan came through the qualifiers, beating France's Enogat Roy and then recovering from a set down to defeat Chinese Taipei's Kuo Kuan Lin. He then beat S Sankar Muthusamy in an all-Indian first-round contest before toppling the top seed.
