PV Sindhu marched into the women’s singles semi-finals of the Australian Open Super 500 badminton tournament in Sydney on Friday, producing a commanding straight-game win to continue her run. The two-time Olympic medallist and third seed outclassed Chinese Taipei’s Chen Su Yu 21-6, 21-9 in a one-sided quarter-final that lasted just 27 minutes.
In the other key Indian storyline of the day, teenager Tanvi Sharma’s impressive campaign ended in the quarter-finals after she was beaten 21-14, 21-14 in 32 minutes by top seed Akane Yamaguchi of Japan. Sindhu will now face Yamaguchi in the last-four, setting up a marquee clash at a time when Sindhu is looking to build momentum on the BWF World Tour.
The result matters for Sindhu not only because it puts her within one win of a Super 500 final, but also because it offers a timely confidence boost in a season described as inconsistent, with the former world champion still searching for rhythm and her first title since the Syed Modi International in December 2024.
Sindhu’s statement win sets up Yamaguchi showdown
Sindhu’s quarter-final performance was emphatic from start to finish. She dominated proceedings from the outset, using her superior reach and court coverage to keep Chen Su Yu under constant pressure. The opening game was over quickly as Sindhu raced through it, and she maintained the same intensity in the second to close out the contest without allowing her opponent any opening.
The 27-minute duration underlined how firmly Sindhu controlled the match, with the Indian shuttler dictating rallies and keeping the scoreboard moving. The straight-game victory also ensured she conserved energy heading into the semi-finals, where the challenge will rise sharply.
Next up is a meeting with Akane Yamaguchi, the top seed and world No. 3, who ended Tanvi Sharma’s run with a composed 21-14, 21-14 win. Sindhu holds a narrow 15-13 head-to-head advantage over the Japanese star, a detail that adds extra intrigue to the semi-final. With both players familiar with each other’s patterns and pace, the match is expected to be a significant test of Sindhu’s current form and consistency.
For Sindhu, reaching the last-four is a notable step given the context of her season. The report notes she has been searching for rhythm on the BWF World Tour, and this semi-final appearance represents a significant boost as she tries to convert strong performances into a title run. Her last tournament win came at the Syed Modi International in December 2024, and a deep run in Sydney could help reset her campaign.
Sindhu’s path to the quarter-finals also included an all-Indian contest. Earlier, she defeated compatriot Isharani Baruah in the pre-quarterfinals to book her place in the last-eight, before producing the dominant display against Chen Su Yu.
Tanvi Sharma’s run ends against the top seed
Tanvi Sharma’s quarter-final exit came against the highest-ranked player left in her section of the draw. Yamaguchi’s 21-14, 21-14 win in 32 minutes brought an end to what was described as an impressive run for the Indian teenager.
While the result ended Sharma’s campaign, the match also highlighted the level required at the business end of a Super 500 event, where top seeds are often able to control key phases and close out games efficiently. For Indian fans, Sharma’s progress through the tournament still stands out as a positive takeaway, even as she fell short of the semi-finals.
Mixed day for India as men’s doubles pair withdraws while trailing
India also had representation in the men’s doubles quarter-finals, but Hariharan Amsakarunan and MR Arjun exited after conceding their match while trailing 19-21, 9-16 against Chinese Taipei’s Chen Cheng Kuan and Liu Kuang Heng.
With the men’s doubles pair out and Sharma eliminated, Sindhu remains the headline Indian presence in the last-four. Her semi-final against Yamaguchi now becomes the central focus, both for its high-profile nature and for what it could mean in terms of Sindhu’s push to rediscover consistency and challenge for titles again on the World Tour.