Two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu showcased her resilience under pressure to storm into the women’s singles final of the French Open 2026, overcoming Japan’s Hina Akechi in a gripping three-game semifinal at the Arena Grand Paris on Saturday. The Indian shuttler recovered from a second-game setback to secure a 21-10, 20-22, 21-16 victory in one hour and 13 minutes, keeping her hopes of a second BWF World Tour Super 750 title of the season alive.
Sindhu’s victory sets up a high-profile title clash against South Korea’s world number one and reigning world champion An Se Young on Sunday. The final presents a formidable challenge for the Indian, who will be looking to break her winless record against the South Korean and add another significant title to her career. The result also marks Sindhu’s second Super 750 final of the season, following her title-winning campaign at the Japan Open in July. Her progress in Paris reflects a strong run of form and gives her another opportunity to establish herself among the leading contenders on the international badminton circuit.
Sindhu began the semifinal with attacking intent, using her powerful smashes, sharp placement and deceptive drops to put Akechi under sustained pressure. The Indian established control early and prevented the Japanese shuttler from settling into a rhythm. After gaining a comfortable advantage, Sindhu maintained her intensity through the closing stages to take the opening game 21-10. Her ability to dictate rallies and exploit openings gave her an early advantage in the contest.
However, Akechi, who had enjoyed an impressive run in the tournament, responded strongly in the second game. The Japanese player improved her defensive coverage and varied her strokes to disrupt Sindhu’s attacking rhythm, turning the contest into a much tighter battle. The second game proved to be the turning point of the semifinal. Akechi maintained pressure through the latter stages, while Sindhu fought back to level the score at 16-16 and briefly moved ahead. The Indian appeared to have regained control, but Akechi refused to surrender the advantage.
With both players competing for every point, the Japanese shuttler edged ahead in the closing exchanges and took the game 22-20, forcing a decider. With the semifinal now balanced, Sindhu needed to regroup and rediscover the attacking consistency that had defined her opening game. The Indian responded with determination, refusing to let the momentum shift completely in her opponent’s favour. The deciding game developed into another closely fought contest, with neither player able to establish a decisive lead.
Sindhu initially controlled the exchanges, but Akechi mounted another comeback, drawing level at 14-14 before moving ahead 16-15. With a place in the final at stake, Sindhu produced her strongest spell of the match. She tightened her shot selection, reduced unforced errors and won six consecutive points to close out the decider 21-16.
The late surge sealed a hard-earned victory and demonstrated Sindhu’s ability to remain composed when the match was on the line. Sindhu’s semifinal triumph sets up a demanding encounter against An Se Young, who has established herself as one of the most consistent players in women’s badminton. The South Korean’s defensive discipline, court coverage and ability to sustain pressure make her a formidable opponent in the summit clash.
The final will be the pair’s 11th meeting, with Sindhu seeking her first victory over An. The Indian will need to combine her attacking strengths with patience and tactical discipline to challenge the world number one. Speaking ahead of the title clash, Sindhu acknowledged the challenge while emphasising her determination to compete without being weighed down by previous results. “I have to give her a good fight, a tough fight. Every point matters. I know we’ve played a lot of times and she’s been doing really well.”
“She’s been at her top form. But I think tomorrow is a different day. Every day is a new day. I just have to go out there and give my best. Rest just decides on that particular day. So yeah, I’m ready to give a fight,” she added. Her comments reflect a clear approach for the final: focus on the immediate contest, compete for every point and give herself the best possible opportunity against the reigning world champion.
Sindhu’s journey to the French Open final is significant not only because of the result but also because of the manner in which she secured it. After comfortably winning the opening game, she faced a determined opponent who capitalised on the smallest opportunities to force a decider. The Indian’s response under pressure was the defining feature of the semifinal. Her ability to recover after losing the second game and produce six consecutive points at a crucial stage highlighted the experience and competitive temperament that have characterised her career.
Her Japan Open triumph earlier this season had already demonstrated her ability to win at the Super 750 level. Reaching another final reinforces that progress and provides an opportunity to test herself against the best player in the world. For Sindhu, the challenge against An Se Young is clear. Breaking her winless run against the South Korean would be a significant achievement, but the immediate priority will be to maintain the attacking precision and composure that carried her through the semifinal. With a prestigious title at stake, Sindhu now stands one match away from adding another major achievement to her 2026 campaign.
