India Open: PV Sindhu Goes Down Fighting to USA's Beiwen Zhang in Final

Zhang wins. What a match this has been. This her first Superseries title, and what a way to get there. She has beaten the favourite of the tournament PV Sindhu 21-18, 11-21, 22-20. 

And Sindhu has a match-point. What a great recovery from the Indian. But on the very next point she commits a rare error on the net. It's 20-20 for both the girls. The match can go either way.

Sindhu is very experienced to let this go so easily. The Indian recovers a point  and 18-17 currently. She wouldn't want to lose in front of a packed Siri Fort auditorium. 

This is tragic for Sindhu as she loses a crucial point. Zhang is in lead by two points. It's turning out to be a High-pressure game. It's 17-15 at the moment. 

There is a constant see-saw battle going on between both the players, as the match is in a really tight position. None of the players are giving an inch to each other. The scores are level at 15-15.

Beiwen has just not got anything right, from the net. Another error for her close to the net. In the very next point, Sindhu places the shuttle well on Beiwen's right side. It's 13-12 for Sindhu.

A very important point after the change of ends here. Clearly Sindhu is on the better side of the court now, as she gets two points to draw level. It's 11-11 at the moment.

Sindhu is not going to give up so easily in the decider. After losing six points on the trot, she gets six. Brilliant stuff by the Indian. Going into the mid-game interval, Beiwen leads 11-9. 

The match changes very quickly. Beiwen is smashing well in the decider. The drift seems to be a problem for Sindhu. It's 9-6 for Beiwen.

Six straight point for Beiwen now. Finally good stuff here by the USA girl. She is smashing well from the far end of the court. Sindhu needs to come forward and play on the net now. It's 9-4 for Beiwen.

And Beiwen crawls her way back into the match. It's 4-4 after the USA girl plays a shot on the net, and the shuttle just barely makes it to the other end of the court. It's 4-4 at the moment.

And into an early lead here Sindhu. She is displaying some great cross-court skills. Beiwen just doesn't seem to have the energy left to make Sindhu work hard for points. It's 3-2 for Sindhu.

And the final game gets underway. Sindhu draws first blood. Again an error on the nets. Sindhu leads 1-0. Still a long way to go in the match, but Beiwen has definitely slowed down.

Great news for Indian fans as Sindhu has drawn level in the match. She wins the game 21-11. Now it will be a test of stamina for the USA girl. Will she be able to withstand Sindhu's might in the last game remains to be seen.

Beiwen looks really tired. She seems to have no answers for Sindhu's deceptive cross-court shots. The Indian leads 19-11 in the second game. 

Sindhu is looking a lot more patient now. She is going for longer rallies, that is forcing her opponent to make mistakes. She has a lead of seven points now. It's 17-10 for Sindhu. 

A fiery smash by Sindhu takes her to five-point lead. She hits the shuttle long, and then smashes it mid-court to take Beiwen by surprise. It's 15-10 for SIndhu.

Beiwen has reduced the deficit to just three points. She is surely making a comeback in the game. Sindhu needs to be really careful here. It's 13-10 for the Indian.

A big point coming for Sindhu, as she wins a 20-shot rally. This will give her the confidence to finish the game soon. Sindhu leads 13-9.

And right after the mid-game interval, Beiwen starts with a cross-court smash. That has been the highlight of her game. But having said that, she doesn't seem to have a reply for SIndhu's net play. It's 12-7 for the Indian.

The strategy has been clear from Sindhu. Just make the rallies longer and draw the opponent forward on the net. That has worked for her in this game, where she has seven-point lead. It's 11-4 for the Indian.

And Beiwen finally gets a point after losing six on the trot. She looks tired in this game. Sindhu has done well to move her opponent throughout the court. It's 8-3 for Sindhu.

Great stuff for the Indian girl as she leads 7-2. Beiwen has not been given any room to freeze her arms for a smash. 

And Sindhu has a three-point lead courtesy a smash. Again good net play has come to the Indian girls' rescue. She is certainly gaining some momentum in this game. It's 5-2.

Beiwen is trying to smash everything that's coming her way. And she has been doing it really well till now. It's 2-2 at the moment.

And the second game starts. Beiwen takes the first point. While Sindhu starts with another good shot at the net. Scores are level at 1-1.

Coach Pullela Gopichand is certainly not a happy man. He is instructing Sindhu to focus on her strength, that is to play on net.

And that's it. Zhang takes the opening game 21-18. This is great start for the USA girl. She has not allowed the Indian to settle, And that has been the key for Beiwen. She just needs to continue to play on the mid-court.

And Beiwen is running away with the game. The drift is surely playing it's part as Sindhu plays two shots on the backcourt that are called out. It's 19-17 for USA girl.

And Sindhu gets a point now. And for the first time in the match, Sindhu hits one straight into the net. It's not looking good for the Indian in this game. It's 18-16 in favour of Beiwen.