Singapore Open : P V Sindhu stormed into the Singapore Open title clash with a commanding win

PV Sindhu wins her third title in 2022, beats Wang Zhi 21-9, 11-21, 21

V Sindhu beat Wang Zhi Yi 21-9, 11-21, 21-15 to claim her maiden title in Singapore and third title in 2022 after wins in Korea Open and Swiss Open. It took her just 12 minutes to wrap up the opening game which included winning 13 consecutive points. Wang Zhi however fought back in superb fashion to draw level as he gained the second game. 

The decider started on a nail-biting note before she gained a five-point lead at the interval. The Chinese looked to fightback but eventually fell shot in the end.

The onset of July and August has historically proven a harbinger of the former World Champion’s peaking at the biggest tournaments – whether the Olympics or Worlds. And for someone who’s been in three World Championship finals and one at the Olympics, an easy Singapore Open Super 500 victory could only count as a good injection of confidence, a five-match-week paced perfectly, before the real battles fetch up – this time at the Tokyo Worlds.

The power hitter Sindhu would fold away her unfettered attack and play the soft touches – angled drops from mid-court with a veiled racquet face, pinpoint net exchanges – not one shot more than required, pushing Wang back one step at a time.

Matters level at 1-1, and twice with the Chinese threatening to close down gaps at 11-12 and 14-16 in the decider, Sindhu would show precise shot selection and use more of the tempered drops and pushes to widen the gap once more. Prone to getting agitated if gaps narrowed earlier, Sindhu would stay cool as a cat, and then stamp her authority in closing out. 

That composure has been lacking against bigger players, but that seemed down to confidence, and nothing inherently in her game. Against Wang, the Indian looked well in control.