Competing in Copenhagen at the Denmark Open Super 750, two-time Olympic medalist PV Sindhu staged a brilliant comeback to beat Indonesia's world No. 7, Gregoria Mariska Tunjung. The match was a test of endurance, lasting 71 minutes, with Sindhu eventually triumphing 18-21, 21-15, 21-13. Having recently reached the semifinals of the Arctic Open, the former world champion continues to find her rhythm. Her next challenge is a quarter-final match today, October 20, scheduled for 4:10 p.m. against Thailand's Supanida Katethong.
Supanida Katethong moved forward after defeating India's Aakarshi Kashyap in two straight sets, 21-18 and 21-8. The match started competitively, with the 22-year-old Kashyap leading for a good portion of the opening game. However, after a 15-15 deadlock and a brief lead at 18-16, Katethong closed out the set with a rapid five-point streak. The momentum shifted entirely after the side change; Kashyap appeared exhausted and lost her edge, ending the match in a swift 36 minutes.
It's been a challenging year for Sindhu, who struggled with her form and left the Hangzhou Asian Games empty-handed. The pattern seemed to repeat early in her match against the Indonesian player, as Sindhu trailed 6-12 and dropped the first set. However, she flipped the switch in the second game, dominating the court to build a commanding 13-4 lead.
Tunjung fought back aggressively, scoring eight points in a row to level the score at 14-14. But Sindhu regained control with two clever flick serves, eventually reaching six match points after Tunjung hit the shuttle long. Although Sindhu missed one opportunity, she forced a deciding third set with a precise lift to the baseline. The final game began as a stalemate, tied at 3-3, with Sindhu alternating between powerful smashes and unforced errors at the net.
Pressure mounted on Sindhu as a series of sharp forehand cross-court shots from Tunjung pushed her into a 5-9 deficit. However, the Indian athlete clawed her way back by capitalizing on her opponent's mistakes. Despite Tunjung briefly leading again after two clinical returns, Sindhu equalized at 13-13. In a sudden burst of momentum, Sindhu jumped to an 18-13 lead, causing the young Indonesian to crumble under pressure with a string of errors. The match concluded with a dramatic diving save from Sindhu, sealing the win after a reverse drop had given her seven match points.
As Sindhu surged ahead 18-13 in the flash of an eye, the young Indonesian disintegrated as she committed too many errors on the backline and at the net. Sindhu secured the match with a diving save after her opponent pushed the shuttle to the net after a reverse drop gave her seven match points.