Overview
- PV Sindhu beat Japan’s Hina Akechi 21-10, 20-22, 21-16 in a 73-minute semifinal on Saturday to advance to her first French Open final.
- She will face world No. 1 An Se Young in Sunday’s title match, a steep challenge given Sindhu has not beaten the South Korean in their previous ten meetings.
- Sindhu credited a rebuilt support team, naming coach Irwansyah and sports scientist Wayne Lombard among those who improved her fitness and ability to close matches.
- Ashmita Chaliha provided a bright spot for India by upsetting Akane Yamaguchi before bowing out to Nozomi Okuhara in the quarterfinals, while most other Indian singles and doubles pairs exited early or withdrew.
- This is Sindhu’s second BWF World Tour Super 750 final of the year after winning the Japan Open and a French Open win would be her first at this event and a major boost to her 2026 resurgence.