P.V. Sindhu’s impressive Australian Open 2026 campaign came to an end with a semifinal defeat on Saturday. | Photo Credit: AFP

India’s P. V. Sindhu saw her run at the Australian Open 2026 come to an end after a 22-20, 21-12 semifinal defeat to reigning world champion Akane Yamaguchi in Sydney on Saturday.

Sindhu led for much of the opening game, but the contest remained closely fought before heading into a deuce, which Yamaguchi eventually won.

The Japanese shuttler carried that momentum into the second game, overturning Sindhu’s early advantage and racing to an 18-9 lead. Yamaguchi eventually sealed the match when Sindhu sent the final shuttle into the net.

Sindhu had entered the last four in impressive form, having brushed aside Chinese Taipei’s Chen Su-yu 21-6, 21-9 in just 27 minutes in the quarterfinals.

Ranked 10th in the world, Sindhu was making only her second semifinal appearance of the 2026 BWF World Tour season, following her run to the final four at the Malaysia Open in January.

The two-time Olympic medallist was also chasing her first BWF World Tour title since winning the Syed Modi International 2024 in Lucknow. Despite falling short in Sydney, the semifinal finish continues a promising resurgence in her 2026 campaign.

Published on Jun 13, 2026