PV Sindhu advanced to the Japan Open 2026 women’s singles final after China’s Chen Yufei retired injured during their semifinal. The Indian star will now chase her first title of the season.
PV Sindhu storms into Japan Open final after Chen retires injured (PC: BAI)
PV Sindhu moved within touching distance of her first title of the 2026 season after reaching the women’s singles final of the Japan Open Super 750 on Saturday. The two-time Olympic medallist advanced after China’s world No. 4 Chen Yufei retired injured while trailing in their semifinal clash.
Sindhu was leading 21-19, 15-10, when Chen, the Tokyo Olympic champion, was forced to pull out with what appeared to be a hamstring injury, sending the Indian into her first final of the year.
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The Indian started confidently, using her attacking strokes and sharp court coverage to establish a healthy lead in the opening game. Although Chen mounted a late comeback to level the scores at 19-19, Sindhu held her nerve to claim the opener 21-19.
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She carried the momentum into the second game, dictating the rallies and racing to a 15-10 advantage before Chen decided she could not continue, bringing the contest to an early end.
The result continues Sindhu’s resurgence in 2026. After beginning the season ranked World No. 18, the former world champion has climbed back into the top 10 and currently sits at World No. 9.
It is also her first appearance in a Super 750 final since the Denmark Open in 2023, underlining her return to top-level form.
Sindhu had already received a walkover into the semifinals after Japan’s Nozomi Okuhara withdrew ahead of their quarterfinal encounter. The Japan Open marks her third semifinal appearance this season after reaching the last four at the Malaysia Open Super 1000 and the Australian Open Super 500.
Sindhu will take on either Japan’s Akane Yamaguchi or Indonesia’s Putri Kusuma Wardani in Sunday’s championship match as she bids to lift her first BWF World Tour title of the season.
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