PV Sindhu Falls to World No. 1 An Se Young in French Open Final
PV Sindhu finishes as runner-up after a hard-fought battle against world No. 1 An Se Young at the French Open 2026.
Double Olympic medalist PV Sindhu finished as the runner-up at the French Open 2026 after a grueling encounter against the world No. 1, An Se Young of South Korea. Despite a spirited effort and a strong start, the Indian ace succumbed to the top-seeded Korean in the women’s singles final at the Arena Grand Paris.
A Tale of Three Games
The match began with Sindhu asserting her dominance. From the very first shuttle, she displayed immense intensity and sharp court control. By capitalizing on early mistakes made by the world champion, Sindhu managed to level the score at 11-all before surging ahead to claim the first game 21-16.
This first-game victory was a significant milestone, as it marked only the second time in 11 career head-to-head meetings that Sindhu has managed to take a game away from the Korean star.
However, An Se Young responded with her characteristic consistency. After a closely contested start to the second game, the top seed seized control with a dominant run of points, winning 21-11 to force a deciding third game.
The Deciding Battle
The final game remained deadlocked at 9-9, with both players fighting for every inch of the court. Ultimately, An Se Young's exceptional defense and court coverage proved too much for the Indian star. The Korean athlete pulled away to seal the match in 61 minutes, securing her fourth French Open title with a final score of 21-16, 11-21, 12-21.
Sindhu's Perspective on the Defeat
Speaking after the match, PV Sindhu emphasized the relentless nature of competing against the world's elite. According to the Badminton Association of India (BAI), Sindhu noted that facing top athletes requires total commitment.
“When you're playing with the top athletes, you have to be at your 100% every single point. I know it's not going to be easy and you have to fight for every point. That's what we were doing,” Sindhu stated.
While she expressed satisfaction with her current form, the Indian star believes she has not yet reached her peak for the season. She admitted that there is still "a lot of room" for improvement and expressed her eagerness to deliver even better performances in the tournaments to come.
A Historic Year for Indian Badminton
Despite the loss in the final, Sindhu's journey in Paris marks another highlight in a successful 2026 season. This was her second BWF World Tour Super 750 final of the year, following her victory at the Japan Open in July.
Furthermore, Sindhu's appearance in the final contributed to a historic milestone for Indian badminton. Her run marked the 10th time an Indian player has reached the championship round of a BWF World Tour event (Super 300 and above) outside of India this season. This officially surpasses the previous record of nine finals set in 2023, making 2026 the most successful year for Indian representation on the international circuit.