PV Sindhu secured a spot in the Japan Open 2026 women’s singles final as China’s Chen Yufei, the world No. 4, retired midway through their semifinal match due to injury. Leading 21-19, 15-10, Sindhu was in control of the game when Chen withdrew with a possible hamstring issue.
Sindhu displayed dominance early in the match, establishing a lead with aggressive play and swift movements. Despite Chen’s comeback to level the score at 19-19 in the first game, Sindhu maintained her composure and clinched the opener 21-19.
In the second game, Sindhu continued her strong performance, taking a 15-10 lead swiftly. With the momentum clearly in Sindhu’s favor, Chen decided to retire, concluding the match prematurely.
This victory signifies a significant milestone in Sindhu’s resurgence in 2026. Despite starting the year ranked World No. 18, the 31-year-old has made a remarkable climb back to World No. 9, showcasing a return to her top form.
Sindhu is set to compete against either Japan’s Akane Yamaguchi or Indonesia’s Putri Kusuma Wardani in the final on Sunday as she vies for the Japan Open title.
Sindhu had previously advanced to the women’s singles semifinals of the Japan Open Super 750 following Nozomi Okuhara’s withdrawal before their quarterfinal clash. This semifinal appearance marked Sindhu’s first in a Super 750 tournament since the 2023 Denmark Open. Throughout the season, she has reached three semifinals, including at the Malaysia Open Super 1000 and the Australian Open Super 500 events.
