PV Sindhu Claims Historic Victory at Japan Open, Secures First Super 750 Title

Sindhu's Remarkable Triumph

In a stunning display of skill, two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu showcased her attacking prowess to defeat local favorite Akane Yamaguchi in straight sets, winning her first Super 750 title at the Japan Open on Sunday.

The 31-year-old made history by becoming the first Indian to clinch the Japan Open title, demonstrating a perfect blend of aggressive play and strategic discipline to secure a 21-17, 21-17 victory over the three-time world champion, ending a title drought that lasted over two years.

Sindhu's last title was at the Syed Modi International in 2024, making this victory her most significant since she won the World Championships in 2019.

While Yamaguchi was competing in her sixth Japan Open final, Sindhu had not managed to defeat her in a completed match for four years. Their previous encounter at the Malaysia Open earlier this year ended with Yamaguchi retiring after the first game.

The last time Sindhu won a full match against Yamaguchi was at the Thailand Open in 2022.

However, on this occasion, Sindhu took charge from the beginning, expertly controlling the forecourt and attacking with precision rather than just power, consistently countering Yamaguchi's attempts to stage a comeback.

Her powerful smashes, combined with precise net play, were crucial. Sindhu kept the shuttle tight to the net, forcing Yamaguchi to lift it, which created openings for her signature cross-court and body smashes.

Sindhu quickly established a 3-0 lead, but a few unforced errors and some brilliant shots from Yamaguchi allowed the Japanese player to equalize at 3-3.

Both athletes exchanged errors early on until Yamaguchi's service mistake brought the score to 5-5. Sindhu then began to assert her dominance with excellent net play, carefully constructing rallies and finishing them with a cross-court winner to lead 8-6.

Another powerful smash extended her lead to 9-6, but two consecutive errors allowed Yamaguchi to come back into the match. A body smash from Yamaguchi leveled the score at 9-9, and Sindhu misjudged a shuttle, trailing by two points at the mid-game interval.

After the break, the momentum shifted as Sindhu won a challenging 36-shot rally to tie the score at 11-11. A thunderous cross-court smash put her ahead at 13-12, followed by a long return from Yamaguchi and a net exchange win for Sindhu, giving her a 16-12 lead.

Yamaguchi responded with a clever shot to Sindhu's forehand and a return that grazed the back line, but Sindhu countered with a well-disguised follow-up shot to maintain her lead.

At 17-15, both players engaged in an exhilarating 38-shot rally, showcasing Yamaguchi's remarkable defense. Although Sindhu allowed Yamaguchi to catch up, she delivered her best performance when it mattered most. A fierce cross-court smash and another error from Yamaguchi gave Sindhu a 19-17 lead. The Japanese player then found the net, granting Sindhu three game points, which she converted with a precise push into Yamaguchi's backhand corner.

Carrying her momentum into the second game, Sindhu dominated the forecourt and took the shuttle early, keeping Yamaguchi under constant pressure.

Another exhausting 44-shot rally concluded with a fatigued Yamaguchi hitting wide, allowing Sindhu to score six consecutive points and take an 8-3 lead.

Although Sindhu briefly lost her rhythm with two net errors and another shot going long, allowing Yamaguchi to narrow the gap to 8-7, she quickly regained control to lead 11-7 at the interval.

Yamaguchi continued to struggle with her returns and wasted another video challenge as Sindhu extended her lead to 14-7. The Japanese player made one last effort with a fine net shot and a deep flat push, narrowing the gap to 14-12, but a timely net error halted her comeback.

Two powerful smashes propelled Sindhu to 17-14, and another error from Yamaguchi left the Indian just three points away from the title.

Some nerves crept in as Sindhu found the net twice, allowing Yamaguchi to close the score to 19-17.

However, Yamaguchi then sent another return wide.

Sindhu earned three championship points after Yamaguchi faltered at the net and sealed her victory when the home favorite's return landed long, with the line call confirmed after a video review. She celebrated the moment by embracing her coach.