PV Sindhu Reaches Australian Open Semi-Finals with Dominant Win

PV Sindhu continued her resurgence on the BWF World Tour with a dominant display, brushing aside Chinese Taipei's Chen Su Yu to enter the women's singles semi-finals of the Australian Open Super 500 tournament on Friday. The third-seeded Indian needed just 27 minutes to register a crushing 21-6, 21-9 victory in the quarter-finals, underlining the form that has made her one of the favourites for the title. The semi-final berth is only Sindhu's second appearance in the last four in eight tournaments this season and comes as a timely boost for the former world champion, who has been searching for consistency after a mixed campaign. The 30-year-old is also chasing her first BWF title since lifting the Syed Modi International crown in December 2024. Sindhu stamped her authority on the contest from the outset, using her superior reach, court coverage and attacking precision to keep Chen under relentless pressure. The Indian raced through the opening game, allowing her opponent just six points, and carried the same intensity into the second game. Chen struggled to find answers to Sindhu's pace and angles as the Indian wrapped up the match in emphatic fashion. The comprehensive victory followed Sindhu's straight-game win over compatriot Isharani Baruah in the pre-quarterfinals, signalling a welcome return to rhythm for the former world No. 2. Standing between Sindhu and a place in the final is top seed Akane Yamaguchi of Japan, who ended the impressive run of Indian teenager Tanvi Sharma with a 21-14, 21-14 victory in 32 minutes. The clash promises to be another chapter in one of women's badminton's most compelling rivalries. Sindhu holds a narrow 15-13 head-to-head advantage over the world No. 3 Japanese star, although their recent encounters have often gone down to the wire. For 17-year-old Tanvi, the quarter-final finish capped a memorable week. The youngster had earlier stunned world No. 11 Chiu Pin-Chian and defeated compatriot Malvika Bansod to announce herself on the international stage.