'Important I stay focused and learn from these matches,' PV Sindhu reacts after close loss to Carolina Marin at Singapore Open 2024

Sindhu lost 13-21, 21-11, 20-22 against Marin.

Indian shuttler PV Sindhu came agonizingly close to finally snapping her long losing streak against Carolina Marin at the Singapore Open 2024 on Thursday, only to narrowly miss out on victory in a three-game battle.

Sindhu got off to a strong start, comfortably claiming the opening game 21-13 and raising hopes that this could be the day she overcame her Spanish nemesis. However, Marin, a three-time former world champion, fought back tenaciously to level the match by taking the second game 21-11.

The decider was a seesaw affair with both players trading leads. Sindhu raced ahead 8-3 early on, but Marin clawed her way back into the contest. At 15-10 up, victory appeared in Sindhu’s grasp, only for the resolute Marin to summon one last push to turn the tables.

With the score poised at 20-20 after Sindhu saved a match point, the Indian went for a winner on the next rally but misjudged a shot at the baseline, then Marin closed out the game with 22-20 victory in a match that lasted over an hour. The final scoreline read 21-13, 11-21, 22-20 in Marin’s favour.

“It was anybody’s game overall. After 20-all, it becomes anyone’s game,” Sindhu said after the match. She pointed to a few key moments, including the switch of ends favouring Marin and her inability to build a bigger lead early in the decider.

While disappointed, Sindhu can take heart from her performance level, having now pushed herself to the absolute limit in back-to-back tournaments after the Malaysia Masters final last week.

Despite the on-court intensity, both players downplayed any animosity. “Outside the game, we’re normal friends, but on court both of us are competitive,” Sindhu stated.

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With the Paris Olympics less than a year away, Sindhu emphasized staying positive and learning from these tight losses. “It’s important I stay focused and learn from these matches. Pressure is always there, but it’s important we stay calm and prepared,” she said.

The result extends Sindhu’s losing streak against Marin to six years and six consecutive losses dating back to 2018. But her narrowing margins against her nemesis provide hope that an elusive victory may finally be within reach.

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