PV Sindhu faced Chinese Taipei’s Sung Shuo Yun in her season opener for the second consecutive year. After a break due to injury, Sindhu initially struggled, trailing 1-7. However, she quickly regained her form, exhibiting strong offensive and defensive play, ultimately winning 21-13, 22-20 in 51 minutes at the Malaysia Open Super 1000 in Kuala Lumpur.
In a closely contested match, Sung won a 22-shot rally to lead 8-4, but Sindhu began to find her rhythm and quickly closed the gap with powerful shots. She leveled the score at 9-9, demonstrating her ability to dictate the game’s tempo. Sindhu’s round-the-head forehand crosscourt smash was particularly effective, allowing her to take an 11-9 lead at the mid-game interval.
In the opening of the match, Sung began strongly, but Sindhu countered effectively by moving her around and executing a powerful smash to gain a 12-9 lead. Sindhu extended her point streak to 10 with a remarkable crosscourt forehand winner bringing the score to 16-9. She sealed the first game with a deceptive backhand drive, momentarily holding the racket head back before delivering the shot into Sung’s forehand corner. In the second game, Sung initially led 3-1 with a deft backhand shot, but Sindhu showcased her adaptability with a strategic mix of smashes and a half-sliced drop shot, regaining the lead at 7-6, reminiscent of the playing style of retired player Tai Tzu Ying.
The contest became more competitive as Sung enhanced her defensive strategy, compelling Sindhu to exert additional effort to find openings. Sindhu gained an advantage, leading 11-8 at the mid-game break. Although Sindhu initially stretched her lead to 14-9, Sung re-energized her gameplay and showcased increased creativity, leveling the score at 15-15.
Dramatic moments characterized the match as both players utilized crosscourt blocks effectively to confuse each other’s positions, culminating in a clever half smash by Sindhu that incapacitated Sung after an intense rally, eliciting Sindhu’s first triumphant fist pump. Tension rose towards the end when Sindhu appeared set to lead 20-17 after what looked like a remarkable crosscourt winner, but Sung’s successful review kept the score tied at 19-19. Despite Sindhu’s impatience as she pressed for a swift victory in straight games, she managed to maintain her composure and secured the match on her second match point, achieving key objectives early in the season.
