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Semi-final result: PV Sindhu beat China's Chen Yufei 21-19, 21-10 to reach the final of the Indonesian Open in Jakarta on Saturday. She will now face Japanese fourth seed Akane Yamaguchi in the final on Sunday. Both players will be playing for their first-ever Super 1000 title.
Sindhu had reached the semis after flattening Japanese number three seed Nozomi Okuhara 21-14, 21-7 while Chen beat USA's Beiwen Zhang 21-14, 17-21, 21-16 in her quarter-final match.
The semi-final tie between the two players lasted 46 minutes involving two games that stood in stark contrast to each other. While the first game was a close affair, the second was a stroll for Sindhu.
Sindhu was trailing 4-8 in the first game before winning five consecutive points to take the lead. At the first interval, she led the game 11-10. Chen then built a lead again but Sindhu fought back from 18-14 and won another five points in a row. She went on to win the game 21-19.
Sindhu lost the first four points of the second game but once she adjusted to the change in drift, the Indian raced to a 9-5 lead. At the interval, she was leading 11-8 and she extended that lead to 17-8 before Chen could get another point. The final score of 21-10 was only a confirmation of Sindhu's dominance.
Updated Date: Jul 21, 2019 15:14:46 IST
Highlights
That's it!
Akane Yamaguchi beats PV Sindhu 21-15, 21-16 in 50 minutes to bag her first Super 1000 event. Incredible attacking display by the Japanese shuttler!
Yamaguchi takes the first game: 21-15
Unbelievable comeback from Yamaguchi!
She takes nine straight points and wraps up the opening game 21-15. Sindhu had no answers to the Japanese fast-paced game from the mid-court. She targeted Sindhu's forehand corner and capitalised on the Indian's backcourt position.
Yuki Fukushima, Sayaka Hirota wins the doubles title!
Japan's Yuki Fukushima and Sayaka Hirota beat compatriots Misaki Matsutomo, Ayaka Takahashi 21-16, 21-18 to win the Indonesia Open 2019.
LIVE NEWS and UPDATES
15:14 (IST)
That's it from us. We hope you enjoyed the live coverage. Unfortunately, it wasn't Sindhu's day, but her form suggests that she'll emerge victorious over the top guns in the women's circuit.
See you next time. Take care!
14:59 (IST)
Tough loss for Sindhu!
14:55 (IST)
Akane wins gold in Jakarta
Akane Yamaguchi claims the biggest championship of her career. Both the games showed that the Japanese has a variety of attacking strokes in her arsenal. She's known for her retrieving skills but her gameplan today stunned PV Sindhu, who looked puzzled after the mid-game break of the first game. She couldn't match up to Yamaguchi's energy on the court.
14:50 (IST)
That's it!
Akane Yamaguchi beats PV Sindhu 21-15, 21-16 in 50 minutes to bag her first Super 1000 event. Incredible attacking display by the Japanese shuttler!
14:45 (IST)
Sindhu 15-19 Yamaguchi
How quick was that? Yamaguchi takes a half jump and smashes one down the court to inch closer to her first Super 1000 title.
14:43 (IST)
Sindhu 14-18 Yamaguchi
After winning a good rally, Sindhu overdoes a simple crosscourt from the backcourt shot and gifts a crucial point to Yamaguchi. She's got to be patient there.
14:41 (IST)
Sindhu 13-16 Yamaguchi
Two consecutive points for Sindhu. She needs a few more to close the gap on the Japanese retriever's lead. Rallies have taken a toll on Sindhu's rhythm.
14:40 (IST)
Can Sindhu power her way back into the game and force a decider?
14:38 (IST)
Sindhu 10-15 Yamaguchi
Just when Sindhu picks up the pace, the pugnacious Yamaguchi comes back to snatch quick points. Incredible defensive play by the Japanese shuttler. Her backhand shots have been accurate in the second game.
14:36 (IST)
Sindhu 10-13 Yamaguchi
That's better from Sindhu. A bit of aggression was needed in her gameplay. She holds her ground firmly to play consecutive flat strokes and trouble Yamaguchi's rhythm.
14:34 (IST)
Yamaguchi is cruising!
14:31 (IST)
Sindhu 7-10 Yamaguchi
The Indian looks drained out already. That's what Yamaguchi does to you. In fact, that's the case with all the Japanese players. Essentially good retrievers, they play long rallies and quick net shots to unsettle the opponent. Sindhu has to level up.
14:29 (IST)
Sindhu 5-8 Yamaguchi
Can we take a moment to appreciate Yamaguchi's follow-up shots? She's tirelessly guarding the net and punching the shuttle towards the backcourt to trouble Sindhu's movement.
14:24 (IST)
Sindhu 1-4 Yamaguchi
This is carnage! Sindhu, for all her defensive efforts, is on the backfoot now. Yamaguchi has changed gears and has used the drift to her advantage.
14:22 (IST)
Yamaguchi takes the first game: 21-15
Unbelievable comeback from Yamaguchi!
She takes nine straight points and wraps up the opening game 21-15. Sindhu had no answers to the Japanese fast-paced game from the mid-court. She targeted Sindhu's forehand corner and capitalised on the Indian's backcourt position.
14:22 (IST)
Sindhu 15-20 Yamaguchi
The Hyderabad-born shuttler saves a game-point. But it's a little too late as Yamaguchi storms past her after the mid-game interval.
14:20 (IST)
Sindhu 14-18 Yamaguchi
Well, what a turnaround! The pint-sized Japanese stands tall against the attacking stroke coming from the other half of the court.
14:17 (IST)
WOW! Defensive badminton at its best
14:11 (IST)
Sindhu 12-11 Yamaguchi
Three straight points for the Japanese. Sindhu has given away two cheap points at the net. Notably, Yamaguchi is playing most of her shots from the mid-court.
14:10 (IST)
BREAK!
14:08 (IST)
Sindhu 10-8 Yamaguchi
Yamaguchi tries a forehand crosscourt shot but yet again, the bird lands wide of the sideline. She has been aggressive but has ended up overplaying from the backcourt.
14:06 (IST)
Sindhu 8-8 Yamaguchi
Yamaguchi loses her balance there and hits the net. Sindhu is back level. The first game has turned out to be a great contest of the shuttlers' defensive prowess.
14:04 (IST)
Sindhu 7-6 Yamaguchi
The Japanese tried to put Sindhu under pressure with an aggressive follow-up shot but the shuttle lands wide.
14:03 (IST)
Sindhu is gearing up
14:00 (IST)
Sindhu 2-3 Yamaguchi
A brilliant netplay allows Sindhu to hit a powerful down-the-line smash. Yamaguchi was caught napping at the net.
Oh, make that 4-3 now. The Indian plays a smart forehand drive followed by an error by Yamaguchi.
13:58 (IST)
Sindhu 0-2 Yamaguchi
The Japanese takes full advantage of the sideway drift to take two quick points. Sindhu has retrieved swiftly throughout the tournament.
13:54 (IST)
Path to the final:
The players walk out in the middle. After playing tiring three-game matches in her opening two games, Sindhu has enjoyed easy quarter-final (Nozomi Okuhara) and semi-final (Chen Yufei) clashes. For Yamaguchi, it has been a very impressive road to the final with a victory over defending champion Tai Tzu Ying.
13:48 (IST)
This is Sindhu's first final of the year. Will she make the most of it?
13:42 (IST)
Preview:
PV Sindhu enters the final with the psychological advantage of having beaten Yamaguchi five times in the six matches they have been involved in since the beginning of 2018, and including victories in their most recent four duels. But the Japanese girl should not be under-estimated for, in addition to indulging in lengthy, energy-sapping rallies, she is capable of playing bursts of fast and furious badminton – as she did on Saturday against a shell-shocked Tai.
13:41 (IST)
Yuki Fukushima, Sayaka Hirota wins the doubles title!
Japan's Yuki Fukushima and Sayaka Hirota beat compatriots Misaki Matsutomo, Ayaka Takahashi 21-16, 21-18 to win the Indonesia Open 2019.
13:27 (IST)
Indians in Jakarta
Indonesia has a bit of charm for Indians as Saina Nehwal has won the title three times (from four finals) – India’s first Superseries title came in 2009. Moreover, Sindhu’s first major title in seniors – a Grade 4 event – had come at Surabaya in 2011. Will Jakarta prove to be lucky this time?
13:21 (IST)
The women's singles action is just a few minutes away
12:40 (IST)
Hello and welcome to Firstpost's live coverage of the Indonesia Open final. India's PV Sindhu will be in action against Japan's Akane Yamaguchi in the women's singles final. It's their first World Tour 1000 event final for both the shuttlers. Stay tuned for all the live updates.