Tokyo: PV Sindhu lost to Akane Yamaguchi 18-21 15-21 50-minute women's singles quarterfinal match at the Japan Open badminton tournament here on Friday.
Sindhu had earlier lost to Yamaguchi in the final of Indonesia Open. With yet another loss, Sindhu now has a 10-6 head-to-head record against the Japanese.
Fifth-seed Sindhu, who went down in the Indonesia Open final to the Japanese, started on a good note, taking an 11-7 lead at the interval in the first game. However, Yamaguchi made a stunning comeback and went on to win the game 21-18.
Yamaguchi 🇯🇵 has the better of Pusarla 🇮🇳 twice in a row going through to the semifinals🏸#HSBCBWFbadminton #HSBCRaceToGuangzhou pic.twitter.com/Iv7LPMpncV— BWF (@bwfmedia) July 26, 2019
In the next game also, the fourth-seeded Japanese didn't let her foot off the peddle and made sure she didn't give Sindhu any opportunity to take the match to the third game.
Yamaguchi showed brilliant skill-set and went on to win the game 21-15 to set up a semi-final date with China's Chen Yu Fei.
Meanwhile, B Sai Praneeth continued with his good form as he advanced to the semifinals after an easy win over Indonesia's Tommy Sugiarto.
Sai Praneeth recorded a straight game 21-12 21-15 win over Sugiarto in the men's singles quarter-final match. He next faces top-seeded Japanese Kento Momota in the semifinals.
Sai Praneeth hardly broke a sweat as he just took 36 minutes to wrap up the match.
Sai is shining bright!🌟💫A comfortable win over Tommy Sugiarto of 🇮🇩 ensures 🇮🇳's @saiprneeth92 storms into the semi-final of #JapanOpenSuper750, will face Kento Momota next.Keep the momentum going,Sai!#IndiaontheRise #badminton pic.twitter.com/SVB9mSoJzQ— BAI Media (@BAI_Media) July 26, 2019
The unseeded Indian led almost all through the first set after 1-1 and the former World Championships bronze medallist Indonesian was playing a catch-up game.
The second game was a bit closer but Sai Praneeth led from the start to the end though not more than four points separated the two before the Indian reeled off three consecutive points from 18-15 to win the match.
(with inputs from PTI)