South Korean badminton player An Se-young secured her 50th victory by defeating India’s Pusarla Venkata Sindhu in the women’s singles final of the 2026 French Open, according to OSEN. The victory at the Arena Porte de la Chapelle in Paris marked An’s 10th tournament win of the 2026 season and her fourth career French Open title, bringing her year-to-date match record to 66 wins and a single loss.
Playing on Oct. 25, the player dropped the first game 16-21 before rebounding to take the next two games 21-11 and 21-12. Sindhu, currently ranked 11th globally, capitalized on aggressive play to hand An her first dropped game of the tournament. An adjusted her defense in the second and third games to neutralize the attack, extending an undefeated run that stretches back to her sole 2026 loss against China’s Wang Zhiyi at the All England Open in March.
Physical Toll and Korea Open Decision
Despite the milestone victory, An competed with athletic tape wrapped around her right knee and calf following an Achilles tendon issue and an injury to her right foot sustained during the Denmark Open. Speaking after her quarterfinal match, An acknowledged the physical strain of the autumn European tour, telling OSEN that while she is grateful to compete, the heavy schedule is exhausting.
An stated that she will evaluate her physical recovery upon returning to South Korea before deciding whether to compete in the BWF World Tour Super 500 Korea Open, scheduled to begin on Nov. 3 in Yeosu, South Jeolla Province. Though she is currently registered for the domestic event, participation would require a quick turnaround following intercontinental travel and just days of rest.
Tactical Adjustment in the Final
Reflecting on her performance against Sindhu, An pointed to patience and tactical consistency as the deciding factors in overcoming her slow start.
In the first game, I think I was a bit hasty,
An said, as reported by OSEN. I tried harder not to be hasty, focused more on defense, and then I found my timing.
The victory leaves her just one title shy of matching her own 11-title single-season record set last year, which tied the single-season record established by Japanese men’s singles player Kento Momota in 2019.
| Player | Game 1 | Game 2 | Game 3 | Match Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| An Se-young | 16 | 21 | 21 | 2 (Winner) |
| Pusarla Venkata Sindhu | 21 | 11 | 12 | 1 |