Two-time Olympic medallist P V Sindhu reached her second Super 750 final of the year after beating Japan’s Hina Akechi in a three-game battle at the French Open in Paris on Saturday.The 31-year-old Indian, who won the Japan Open Super 750 title in July, defeated world No. 22 Akechi 21-10, 20-22, 21-16 in an hour and 13 minutes.“I am a little bit happy that I could pull off the match and play the finals, but I think the job is not done yet and I think I need to go back and focus for one more match,” Sindhu said.Akechi, 21, had beaten Wang Zhi Yi and Putri Kusuma Wardani earlier in the week. She used her deceptive strokes and defence to put Sindhu under pressure, but the Indian held on to win the deciding game and book her place in the final.Sindhu will face world No. 1 An Se Young of South Korea in Sunday’s title clash.“I have to give her a good fight, a tough fight. Every point matters. We’ve played a lot of times and she’s been doing really well,” she said.“She’s been at her top form, but I think tomorrow is a different day. I just have to just go out there and give my best.”The opening game was closely fought in the early stages, with the scores level at 4-4 and 8-8. Sindhu then moved ahead and took an 11-9 lead into the interval.The Indian stepped up after the break, winning 11 of the next 12 points to close out the game 21-10 in 18 minutes.Sindhu fell four points behind early in the second game but fought back to level the score at 7-7. Her round-the-head cross-court attacks produced winners as the two players remained level at 10-10 before Akechi began to edge ahead.The world No. 11 Indian kept pace with her opponent and drew level at 14-14. A cross-court smash helped her make it 16-16 before a deceptive return put her ahead.Akechi responded to earn a game point, which Sindhu saved at 20-20 after a rally at the net. The Japanese secured another game point and converted it when Sindhu hit wide, forcing a decider.Sindhu made a 5-3 start in the third game, but Akechi fought back to take a 6-5 lead. The Indian regained the advantage and went into the interval two points ahead, though she struggled to maintain consistency with her attacking shots.A cross-court return and a net shot helped Sindhu extend her lead, but Akechi fought back with accurate net play and a smash to level the score at 15-15.The turning point came during a 38-shot rally that ended with Akechi making an error at the net, allowing Sindhu to move ahead 18-16. Another well-placed net shot took the Indian closer to victory before Akechi hit wide to give her four match points.Sindhu sealed the win with a cross-court smash.The Indian has enjoyed a productive year, winning the Japan Open title in July and coming close to winning medals at the World Championships in New Delhi and the Asian Games. She will now have another opportunity to add a Super 750 title when she faces An Se Young in the final.
