PV Sindhu Falls to Yamaguchi in Australian Open Semifinal, Another Title Drought Extends

India’s double Olympic medallist PV Sindhu endured another setback as her wait for a BWF World Tour title stretched further after a semifinal defeat at the Australian Open on Saturday.

Sindhu went down to top seed Akane Yamaguchi of Japan in straight games, losing 20-22, 12-21 in a 43-minute contest that had moments of high intensity but ultimately slipped away at crucial stages.

The former world No. 1, seeded third in the tournament, started strongly and matched Yamaguchi stroke for stroke in a closely fought opening game. Both players displayed aggressive rallies and even produced runs of six consecutive points, keeping the contest finely balanced.

Sindhu had a chance to take the first game, earning a game point , but could not convert it as Yamaguchi held her nerve under pressure to clinch the opener 22-20.

The momentum shifted sharply in the second game. Yamaguchi took early control with an eight-point burst to race ahead 13-6 and maintained dominance throughout, not allowing Sindhu any sustained comeback.

With this win, Yamaguchi advanced to the final where she will face Thailand’s Pornpawee Chochuwong for the women’s singles title.

The defeat also highlighted Sindhu’s recent struggles against the Japanese star. While she still leads their head-to-head record 15-13, she has now lost five of their last six meetings, indicating a shift in momentum.

The Australian Open semifinal marks Sindhu’s second semifinal appearance of the season. Earlier this year, she reached the last four at the Malaysia Open , where she lost to China’s Wang Zhiyi , and has also made multiple quarterfinal finishes.

Despite consistent deep runs, a BWF title continues to elude Sindhu since her triumph at the Syed Modi International 2024 , extending her ongoing title drought.