(MENAFN - Khaleej Times) Inspired by the passionate support from the Indian fans who never stopped singing her name, PV Sindhu turned on the style to celebrate her semifinal spot with a thumping 21-9, 21-13 win over Japan's Akane Yamaguchi at the Dubai World Superseries Finals on Friday.
With both players already assured of their places in the last-four stage, it was a battle for the bragging rights in Group A of women's singles. And it was Sindhu who waltzed into an invincible position with a sublime display of attacking badminton.
At one stage, the world number three was leading 11-1 against the world number two in the first set.
"I am happy with the way I played today. It was a good game overall even though the scores weren't really close. In the second set, there were some really long rallies. In the second set, she was only trailing by three-four points. Overall, I played a good game," Sindhu, who reached the semifinals in Dubai last year, told reporters after her match.
"Yes, this performance will give me confidence going into the semifinals. I played my best game today. It went off really well. So I wish to play with the same confidence in the semifinals. I want to play another very good match tomorrow.
"And also I would like to thank the crowd. The support from them today was fantastic. I wish to see them tomorrow again in my semifinal."
But if crowd support was enough to win a match, Sindhu's compatriot Kidambi Srikanth would have won his final Group A game in men's single in emphatic style.
But the 24-year-old lost to China's Shi Yuqi (21-17, 19-21, 21-14) - his third straight defeat in the tournament.
Sindhu, on the other hand, never looked in trouble on a day when defending women's champion Tai Tzu Ying of Taiwan bowed out of the competition despite winning her final Group B game against last year's runner-up Sung Ji Hyun of South Korea 21-17, 21-11.
"I played my game today, but unfortunately the victory wasn't enough," Ying said.
"Yes I am disappointed for missing the semifinals. I won two matches. That's why this tournament is so tough," the world number one added.
It was Chinese teen sensation Chen Yufei who denied Ying a place in the semifinal with a thrilling three-set win (21-18, 13-21, 21-18) over Thailand's Ratchanok Intanon, who had already booked her place in the last-four stage on Thursday.
Malaysian legend Lee Chong Wei, the four-time winner of the tournament, suffered a stunning three-set (13-21, 22-20, 21-15) defeat against South Korea's Son Wan Ho, but both players went on to reach the semifinals from Group A in men's singles.
Olympic champion Chen Long's late withdrawal left the group with only three players and all three of them - Wei, Ho, and Hong Kong's NG Ka Long Angus - ended up with one win each.
In the end, it was Angus who missed out on countback (difference between games won and lost).
Earlier, defending Dubai World Superseries Finals champion Viktor Axelsen booked his place in the semifinals with a hard-fought three-set (21-16, 14-21, 21-15) win over Chou Tien Chen of Taiwan.
Men's singles
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