India’s P.V. Sindhu will take on home favourite Akane Yamaguchi in the Japan Open 2026 final on Sunday.

Sindhu entered the final after beating China’s Chen Yufei in the semifinals, while Yamaguchi overcame Indonesia’s Putri Kusuma Wardani in the other last-four clash.

P.V. Sindhu vs Akane Yamaguchi head-to-head (Sindhu leads 15-14)

• 2026: Australian Open (SF) – Akane Yamaguchi won 22-20, 21-12
• 2026: Thailand Open (QF) – Akane Yamaguchi won 19-21, 21-18, 21-15
• 2026: Malaysia Open (QF) – P.V. Sindhu won 21-11
• 2025: Badminton Asia Championships (R16) – Akane Yamaguchi won 21-12, 16-21, 21-16
• 2023: Canada Open (SF) – Akane Yamaguchi won 21-14, 21-15
• 2023: Singapore Open (R32) – Akane Yamaguchi won 18-21, 21-19, 21-17
• 2022: Thailand Open (QF) – P.V. Sindhu won 21-15, 20-22, 21-13
• 2022: Badminton Asia Championships (SF) – Akane Yamaguchi won 13-21, 21-19, 21-16
• 2021: World Tour Finals (SF) – P.V. Sindhu won 21-15, 15-21, 21-19
• 2021: Indonesia Masters (SF) – Akane Yamaguchi won 21-13, 21-9
• 2021: Tokyo Olympics (QF) – P.V. Sindhu won 21-13, 22-20
• 2021: All England Open (QF) – Akane Yamaguchi won 21-16, 16-21, 19-21
• 2019: World Tour Finals (Group) – Akane Yamaguchi won 18-21, 21-18, 21-8
• 2019: Japan Open (QF) – P.V. Sindhu won 21-18, 21-15
• 2019: Indonesia Open (Final) – Akane Yamaguchi won 21-15, 21-16
• 2018: World Tour Finals (Group) – P.V. Sindhu won 24-22, 21-15
• 2018: Asian Games (SF) – P.V. Sindhu won 21-17, 15-21, 21-10
• 2018: Asian Games (Team QF) – P.V. Sindhu won 21-18, 21-19
• 2018: World Championships (SF) – P.V. Sindhu won 21-16, 24-22
• 2018: All England Open (SF) – Akane Yamaguchi won 19-21, 21-19, 21-18
• 2018: Asia Team Championships (Group) – P.V. Sindhu won 21-19, 21-15
• 2017: World Superseries Finals (Final) – Akane Yamaguchi won 15-21, 21-12, 21-19
• 2017: World Superseries Finals (Group) – P.V. Sindhu won 21-9, 21-13
• 2017: Hong Kong Open (QF) – P.V. Sindhu won 21-12, 21-19
• 2017: French Open (SF) – Akane Yamaguchi won 14-21, 9-21
• 2016: World Superseries Finals (Group) – P.V. Sindhu won 12-21, 21-8, 21-15
• 2016: Uber Cup (Group) – P.V. Sindhu won 21-11, 21-18
• 2015: Macau Open (SF) – P.V. Sindhu won 21-8, 15-21, 21-16
• 2013: Japan Open (R16) – Akane Yamaguchi won 6-21, 17-21

While Sindhu holds a minor lead in head-to-head numbers against Yamaguchi, the Japanese shuttler has dominated their battle in recent years.

Since 2023, the pair have clashed six times, with Yamaguchi winning five of those matches. Sindhu’s only win in this spell came in the Malaysian Open earlier this year after Yamaguchi had to retire due to an injury.

Published on Jul 18, 2026