Indian ace shuttler P V Sindhu’s impressive run at the season-opening Malaysia Open Super 1000 came to an end after a straight-game defeat to China’s Wang Zhiyi in the women’s singles semifinals. Two-time Olympic medallist struggled to sustain the pressure against the world number two, committing too many unforced errors in a 16-21, 15-21 loss.
Sindhu, who was featuring for the first time after recovering from a foot injury, let slip an 11-6 lead in the second game. With this defeat, India’s campaign in the tournament also came to a close.
Sindhu off to a good start
Sindhu was off to a positive start, taking the fight to her higher-ranked opponent early. She hit hard, used her reach effectively, and produced her trademark cross-court smashes to move to a 5-2 lead. However, Wang Zhiyi’s subtle touches helped her draw level in a run of points. A few errors from Wang allowed Sindhu to edge ahead 9-7, but the Chinese player regained momentum to take a slender one-point lead at the interval as Sindhu faltered at the net.
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Wang Zhiyi increased the pressure on Sindhu
After the restart, both players struggled to find length, with the scores tied at 13-13. Several points were squandered at the backline. From 15-14, Wang increased the pressure with relentless attacking shots, mixing them with well-timed lifts that floated just out of Sindhu’s reach. She surged to 18-14, dropped one point in a long rally, then earned four game points and closed out the first game as Sindhu went wide.
Sindhu slip to 1-3 after two unforced errors in second game
The second game saw Sindhu slip to 1-3 after two unforced errors but she quickly regrouped, constructing precise rallies to move ahead 6-3. Wang steadied herself to reduce the gap, yet Sindhu continued to dominate the mid-phase by pushing her opponent to the corners with sharp angles, opening up an 11-6 lead at the break.
After the resumption, Wang came out aggressively, engaging in brisk rallies. Sindhu countered with near-perfect net shots to stay ahead at 13-9. However, Wang fought back once again, and Sindhu began spraying shots wide and into the net. The scores levelled at 13-13, before Wang seized the initiative. A deft net exchange gave the Chinese player a 16-13 cushion.
Sindhu missed the backline twice and a backhand net error handed Wang five match points. The contest ended when Sindhu pushed another shot wide, handing Wang the victory and a place in the final.
Despite the loss, Sindhu showed flashes of her trademark power and precision. She challenged a higher-ranked opponent with intensity and skill, but a combination of unforced errors and Wang Zhiyi’s consistent attacking play proved decisive in the semifinals.