PV Sindhu Reaches French Open Final After Hard-Fought Badminton Win
PV Sindhu is back in the French Open final, reaching the championship match for the first time in 13 years after a demanding three-game victory over Japan’s Hina Akechi. The Indian badminton star prevailed 21-10, 20-22, 21-16 on Saturday, showing patience and composure to overcome a spirited opponent and secure her place in a second BWF World Tour Super 750 final this year.
Sindhu’s latest run adds to an encouraging season that already includes a Japan Open title in July. It also marks a significant return to the final stage of a tournament where she has experienced both opportunity and disappointment. Her previous French Open semifinal appearances, in 2017 and 2021, were against Japanese players Akane Yamaguchi and Sayaka Takahashi. This time, she went one step further.
Akechi pushes Sindhu to the limit
The semifinal was the first meeting between Sindhu and the 21-year-old Akechi, whose energetic approach made the contest increasingly challenging after a one-sided opening game. Early errors from the Japanese shuttler helped Sindhu take control, while the opening exchanges featured few extended rallies. The score remained close at 8-8 before Sindhu raised her intensity and pulled away to claim the game 21-10.
Akechi responded strongly in the second game, making the match far more competitive. Sindhu fell behind but fought her way back to level the score at 18-18, setting up a tense finish. The Indian had chances to close out the match, but Akechi held firm and took the game 22-20 to force a decider.
“It was anybody’s game after that,” Sindhu said, reflecting on the closing stages of the second game. The scoreline captured the narrow margins of elite badminton: a few carefully placed shots, a defensive recovery or an unforced error can quickly shift momentum.
Composure proves decisive in the third game
Sindhu appeared to have established control in the deciding game, moving ahead 14-9. But she was aware that the lead was not secure. Akechi continued to attack and worked her way back to 14-14, putting the Indian under renewed pressure.
“I’ve had matches where I was leading and she came back, and even in this match she did,” Sindhu said. “So I kept thinking it’s not over until it’s over.” Her focus on the next point, rather than the score, helped her regain control during the decisive stretch.
A long, 38-shot rally became a turning point. Akechi sent the shuttle into the net at the end of the exchange, giving Sindhu an 18-16 advantage. The rally tested both players’ movement, stamina and patience, and its outcome gave Sindhu a valuable lift. She maintained her concentration from there, closing out the game 21-16 and booking her place in the final.
Sindhu also praised her opponent’s determination, noting that Akechi “kept fighting for every point.” The Indian said it was important to remain strong on court and avoid allowing the Japanese player’s comeback to undermine her confidence.
A comeback built through careful rebuilding
The French Open result reflects more than a strong week of badminton. Sindhu has spoken openly about a lengthy rebuilding period marked by ups and downs, during which she eventually decided to start again from the basics. Rather than relying only on hard training volume, she focused on understanding what her body and mind needed to compete consistently.
That process included bringing together a new support team, with sports science and physiotherapy expertise. The goal was to assess her physical condition, identify areas requiring attention and plan training more intelligently. Sindhu said it was important to understand her body and work accordingly, rather than simply putting in what she described as “donkey work.”
Her comments point to a broader shift in elite badminton, where performance increasingly depends on combining technical practice with recovery, injury prevention, strength and mental preparation. For a player with Sindhu’s experience, a tailored approach can help preserve speed and endurance while managing the demands of a packed international schedule.
Another major test awaits against An Se-young
Sindhu’s reward for reaching the final is a meeting with world No. 1 An Se-young, who has been in formidable form. The South Korean is known for her speed, consistency and ability to turn defence into attack, making her one of the toughest opponents on the women’s badminton circuit.
Sindhu knows the challenge will require her to be sharp from the opening rally. The pair have faced each other several times, but she stressed that past meetings would not determine the outcome of this one. “Every point matters,” she said, adding that she was ready to give An a tough fight.
The final offers Sindhu an opportunity to add another major title to her season and underline the progress made during her rebuilding phase. Reaching the championship match is already a notable achievement, but the Indian has made clear that she is not treating it as the finish line. After surviving Akechi’s comeback and finding her composure in the decider, Sindhu will now look to carry that resilience into one more high-stakes match.
