An Se Young Claims Third Consecutive French Open Title Over PV Sindhu

South Korea's World No. 1 An Se Young defeated India's World No. 9 PV Sindhu in a thrilling French Open 2026 women's singles final on Sunday. This victory marks An Se Young's third consecutive French Open title, cementing her dominance in the sport. The match also extended her undefeated record against Sindhu to 11 encounters, a streak the Indian has yet to break in a senior singles match.

PV Sindhu initially took the lead by winning the first game 21-16. However, An Se Young roared back emphatically, securing the second game 21-11. The deciding third game saw a fierce contest, with Young ultimately prevailing 21-12. This win also signified An Se Young's 50th consecutive match victory, underscoring her current form and status as the 'best in the business right now'.

In the second game, An Se Young quickly found her rhythm, displaying excellent badminton. She took a 3-0 lead early on, despite Sindhu earning her first point after Young hit the net. The Korean World No. 1 extended her lead to 6-5 after a brilliant rally. She then won three straight points to lead 11-7 at the halfway mark. An Se Young continued her dominant showing, winning five successive points for the second time in the game, establishing a 10-point lead at 18-8, before closing out the game 21-11.

The third and final game commenced with PV Sindhu starting strong, taking a 3-1 lead. She further extended this to 8-5 after winning four consecutive points. However, An Se Young, described as 'phenomenal' and 'relentless,' mounted a comeback, winning points to narrow the gap and eventually tie the score at 9-9. The World No. 1 then led 11-9 at the halfway point. An Se Young continued her surge, winning nine of the last ten points to lead 14-9, putting Sindhu 'with her back against the wall.' The Korean then clinched the game 21-12, completing her 'brutal display'.

Despite the ultimate defeat, PV Sindhu’s performance in the French Open 2026 demonstrated her continued capability to contend for major honours. She put up a significant fight, particularly in the first game and early stages of the third, showcasing her resilience. The tournament has suggested that this could be the 'start of a renaissance' for India's World No. 9, even as she failed to end her "miserable record" against the dominant An Se Young.

What to watch: PV Sindhu's performance in upcoming major badminton tournaments.

Editor's note: The draft effectively summarizes the match details, stats, and context provided in the live update transcript.