Denmark Open: PV Sindhu crashes out in quarters as concerns over form continue

PV Sindhu's run in the Denmark Open, a prestigious Super 750 tournament, ended in the quarter-final after she lost to Paris Olympics bronze medalist Greogria Mariska Tunjung of Indonesia on Friday, October 18. Sindhu fought back after losing the opening game, but lost the last-eight match 13-21, 21-16, 9-21 in 57 minutes in Odense.

Sindhu showed signs of returning to form when she battled back from behind to beat fourth-seeded Han Yue of China in the Round of 16 match. Sindhu gave it her all to come back from behind in the deciding game, but she was comfortably outclassed in the decider by Tunjung on Friday.

Sindhu paid the price for not getting off the blocks quickly against Tunjung. It was 6-5 in favour of the Indonesian in the opening game, but Sindhu lost five points in a row and was never able to bounce back from there.

Sindhu turned it around in the second game,



showing more urgency and excellent movement on the court. Tunjung led 9-8, but Sindhu steadily pulled ahead and won the game 21-16. However, the gas ran out for Sindhu in the decider as Tunjung comfortably raced past the finish line in a lopsided game.

Sindhu had a 12-1 head-to-head record against the Indonesian before Friday's contest and she let go off an opportunity to extend her dominance.

With Sindhu's exit, India's challenge in the Denmark Open came to an end.

Sindhu took a break after returning home empty-handed from the Paris Olympics. She returned to the tour at the Arctic Open earlier in October, but crashed out in the first round.

Sindhu, who has dropped to No. 18 in the women's singles rankings, has won 17 matches this year and lost 12. She reached the final of one tournament -- the Malaysia Masters, but a title on the tour has been eluding her.