Indian badminton ace P V Sindhu advanced to her second Super 750 final of the year with a thrilling win over Japan’s Hina Akechi at the French Open on Saturday.
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French Open | P V Sindhu sets up title clash with world No 1 An Se Young
In one lineP V Sindhu advanced to the French Open final after defeating Japan’s Hina Akechi.Key highlights• Semi-final victory over AkechiP V Sindhu secured a hard-fought 21-10, 20-22, 21-16 win against world No. 22 Hina Akechi to reach the final.• Tough battle in the second gameDespite dominating the first game, Sindhu faced fierce resistance and lost a tightly contested second game before recovering in the decider.• Upcoming final against An Se YoungThe Indian badminton ace will face South Korea’s world No. 1 An Se Young in the summit clash of the French Open.Key statisticsAn hour and 13 minutesMatch duration21-10, 20-22, 21-16First game score18 minutesFirst game duration38-shotDecider rally lengthProcessed with AI. Reviewed by DH Digital Team.
The two-time Olympic medallist registered a 21-10, 20-22, 21-16 win over world No. 22 Akechi in the semifinal that lasted an hour and 13 minutes.
“I’m a little bit happy that I could pull off the match and play the finals, but I think the job is not done yet and I think I need to go back and focus for one more match,” said Sindhu.
The 21-year-old Japanese, who beat Wang Zhi Yi and Putri Kusuma Wardani earlier in the week, used deceptive strokes and quality defence to trouble Sindhu, but the Indian held her nerve to emerge victorious.
The 31-year-old will face Korea’s world No. 1 An Se Young in the summit clash.
The opening game was closely contested initially, with the players locked at 4-4 and 8-8 before Sindhu took an 11-9 lead into the interval.
She then took charge, winning 11 of the last 12 points to seal the game 21-10 in 18 minutes.
Sindhu, a former world champion, fell four points behind in the second game but raised her pace to draw level at 7-7. Her round-the-head cross-court attack produced winners as the players stayed neck and neck until 10-10, before Akechi edged ahead.
The world No. 11 Indian stayed close at 14-14 and later caught up at 16-16 with a cross-court smash before moving ahead with a deceptive return.
The Japanese kept pace and earned a game point. Sindhu saved it at 20-20 after a net exchange, but Akechi secured another opportunity and converted it when the Indian hit wide.
Sindhu led 5-3 start in the decider, but Akechi fought back to lead 6-5. The Indian regained the advantage and held a two-point cushion at the interval, despite struggling for consistency with her attack.
A cross-court return and a fine net shot extended Sindhu’s lead, but Akechi clawed her way back with precise net play and a smash to level the score at 15-15.
An energy-sapping 38-shot rally ended with a net error from Akechi, giving Sindhu an 18-16 lead. A fine net shot moved her closer to victory before the Indian earned four match points when the Japanese hit wide.
Sindhu sealed the contest with a cross-court smash.
Sindhu has been impressive this year as besides her Japan Open title, she also had come close to winning medals at the New Delhi World Championships and Asian Games.