P.V. Sindhu Battles Past Miyazaki to Reach China Open Last 16

P.V. Sindhu returned to winning ways on Wednesday with a gritty three-game victory over Japan’s sixth seed Tomoka Miyazaki at the China Open Super 1000 tournament. The double Olympic medallist overcame a mid-match stumble to win 21-15, 8-21, 21-17 and advance to the round of 16 in a contest lasting 62 minutes.

Sindhu began the match with purpose, unleashing a dominant run of seven straight points to take a 13-5 lead in the opening game. Her aggressive shot selection and superior court coverage helped her secure the first game with relative ease.

However, Miyazaki responded with intensity in the second game. The 18-year-old world No. 6 rattled off nine consecutive points to surge ahead 12-8 and never looked back. With Sindhu struggling for rhythm, the Japanese youngster forced a decider by taking the second game 21-8.

In the third game, Sindhu showed her experience and composure. Staying patient and dictating the rallies, she built a steady lead and held off a late challenge from Miyazaki to close out the match. It was a crucial win for the world No. 15, who had lost to Miyazaki in their only previous meeting at the Swiss Open last year.

The victory comes at a much-needed time for Sindhu, who has endured a difficult season marked by early exits. Just last week, she suffered a straight-game defeat in the first round of the Japan Open Super 750 to Korea’s Sim Yu Jin. 

It was her fifth first-round loss of the year and added to a string of disappointing performances, including early exits at the Indonesia Open, Singapore Open, Malaysia Masters, Asian Championships, All England Open, and the Indonesia Masters.

Despite the setbacks, Sindhu remains determined to fight her way back to form and prove her mettle ahead of the Paris Olympics next year. The win over a top-10 player like Miyazaki not only boosts her confidence but also serves as a reminder of her pedigree on the world stage.

As the tournament progresses, Sindhu will look to build on this hard-earned momentum and silence doubts about her current form. With the pressure mounting and eyes on her comeback, the next few rounds in China could prove pivotal in reshaping her 2025 season.