PV Sindhu beats Hina Akechi to reach French Open final

P V Sindhu defeated Hina Akechi 21-10, 20-22, 21-16 to reach the French Open badminton final in Paris on Saturday, October 24, 2026, the match lasting one hour and 13 minutes.

The 31-year-old two-time Olympic medallist advanced to her second Super 750 final of the year after winning the Japan Open Super 750 in July; she is ranked world No. 11 and is a former world champion. Her opponent, 21-year-old Hina Akechi, is world No. 22 and had beaten Wang Zhi Yi and Putri Kusuma Wardani earlier in the week.

The opening game was level at 4-4 and 8-8 before Sindhu took an 11-9 lead into the interval. She then dominated the closing phase, winning 11 of the last 12 points to close out the first game 21-10 in 18 minutes.

In the second game Sindhu fell four points behind but fought back to 7-7, using a round-the-head cross-court attack to produce winners as the contest stayed tight through 10-10. Akechi edged ahead thereafter; Sindhu drew level at 16-16 with a cross-court smash and moved ahead with a deceptive return, but Akechi converted a subsequent game point after Sindhu hit wide following a saved game point at 20-20.

The decider began with Sindhu 5-3 up before Akechi led 6-5; Sindhu then regained the initiative and held a two-point cushion at the interval despite struggles with consistency in her attack. A cross-court return and a fine net shot extended Sindhu's lead, Akechi replied to level at 15-15 with precise net play and a smash, and a 38-shot rally ended with a net error from Akechi to put Sindhu 18-16.

Sindhu earned four match points when Akechi hit wide and finished the contest with a cross-court smash to seal the 21-10, 20-22, 21-16 victory.

Sindhu will face Korea's world No. 1 An Se Young in the summit clash, a match that will decide the French Open women's singles champion.