PV Sindhu loses in the Indonesia Open semifinals

P V Sindhu’s excellent run at the Indonesia Open Super 1000 tournament came to an end on Saturday as she lost in three games against Thailand’s former world champion Ratchanok Inthanon in a hard-fought women’s singles semifinal.

Sindhu, a two-time Olympic medalist, lost in 54 minutes to world no. 8 and second-seeded Ratchanok for her third consecutive semifinal appearance.

Sindhu, who is 26 years old, reached the final four of the Indonesia Masters last week and the French Open in October.

Sindhu, the world number seven, entered the match with a 4-6 head-to-head record against the Thai player, having lost both of their previous matches.

The Indians got off to a fantastic start, gradually building an 8-3 lead early on. Ratchanok got the score to 9-10 before Sindhu took a one-point lead into the halftime break.

Sindhu scored three straight points to take the lead and never looked back as she won the first game.

Ratchanok regained her composure and stormed back into the match, leading 11-7 at the halftime break in the second game.

From 12-8, the Thai shuttler took nine of the next ten points, leaving Sindhu stranded on the opposite side.

After going to the net, Sindhu gave 11 game points to Ratchanok, who sealed the victory with a smash on her opponent’s forehand.

No. 8 in the world Thai’s amazing run continued in the decider, as she raced to an 11-6 lead with Sindhu making too many errors.

Sindhu returned with a cross-court drop, but Ratchanok took advantage of a misjudgment at the backline and then an inaccuracy at the net.

The Indian went on a four-point run to get to 13-16, but Ratchanok broke the run and pushed to seven match points.

Ratchanok won the match with a precise return at the forecourt after a net fault delayed the inevitable.

Sindhu, the current world champion, last competed in the Swiss Open finals.