PV Sindhu Wins French Open Thriller Over Supanida Katethong

PV Sindhu survived a tense three-game contest against Thailand’s Supanida Katethong to reach the next round of the French Open Super 750 on Wednesday. The Indian shuttler won 21-14, 8-21, 23-21 after 64 minutes in a match that swung sharply before being decided by the narrowest of margins in the final game.

Sindhu, a double Olympic medallist, former world champion and former world No. 1, made a strong start against Katethong, who was listed as world No. 26. She took the opening game 21-14, but the match quickly developed into a demanding test as the Thai player levelled the contest with a dominant second-game response.

Sindhu holds firm in 23-21 deciding game

The first game went Sindhu’s way by seven points as she established an early advantage in the contest. Her 21-14 win gave her the lead, but Katethong responded emphatically in the second game, winning 21-8 to force a decider.

Katethong’s second-game victory changed the complexion of the match and ensured that Sindhu would have to negotiate a full three-game encounter. The 8-21 score in that game was a stark contrast to Sindhu’s opening-game win and set up a close finish between the two women’s singles players.

The deciding game proved to be the most competitive part of the contest. Both players fought for every point, with neither able to create enough separation to end the match comfortably. The score moved beyond 21 points, underlining how closely the final game was contested.

Sindhu eventually held her nerve in the closing stages and secured the game 23-21. That two-point margin completed a 21-14, 8-21, 23-21 victory and sent her through to the next round of the Super 750 event.

The result matters for Sindhu because it keeps her French Open campaign alive after a match in which she had to recover from the one-sided second game. Having opened with a 21-14 win, she was pushed into a decider by Katethong’s 21-8 response before finding a way through the decisive game.

The 64-minute duration reflected the length and intensity of the encounter. Sindhu’s ability to close out the final game at 23-21 was the difference after the match had been level at one game apiece.

Unnati Hooda exits women’s singles draw

Elsewhere in the women’s singles draw, Unnati Hooda exited the French Open Super 750 after a three-game defeat to Japan’s Riko Gunji. Hooda lost 18-21, 21-12, 17-21.

Hooda recovered after dropping the opening game 21-18, taking the second 21-12 to level her match against Gunji. However, Gunji won the deciding game 21-17, ending Hooda’s run in the tournament.

Wednesday’s women’s singles results therefore produced contrasting outcomes for the Indian players. Sindhu advanced after edging Katethong in a 23-21 decider, while Hooda’s comeback in the second game was not enough to prevent a three-game exit against Gunji.

Sindhu now moves forward in the French Open Super 750 following one of the day’s closest women’s singles contests, while Katethong was left just two points short in the deciding game.