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Indian badminton star Pusarla Venkata Sindhu ended a title drought of almost two years at the Japan Open on Sunday and said winning would give her "a lot of confidence".Sindhu, a world champion in 2019 and Olympic silver medallist in 2016, beat Japan's Akane Yamaguchi 21-17, 21-17 in Tokyo to win the competition for the first time.It was her first title since she won the Syed Modi India International in Lucknow in 2024.Sindhu has set her sights on a medal on home soil when New Delhi hosts the world championships next month, and she said her win in Japan would boost her chances."This one was very important because playing in finals is one thing, but winning and getting that gold is a different thing altogether," the 31-year-old said."I'm happy that I'm on the positive side. This gives me a lot of confidence."Sindhu was playing in her first final since winning in Lucknow, after losing in the semi-finals twice on badminton's world tour this year.She is currently ranked number 10 in the world.Sindhu jumped out to an early lead against world number three Yamaguchi and held on to take the first game.She clinched the title when Yamaguchi hit a shot that was called in, only for Sindhu to successfully overturn it with a challenge."I had tears in my eyes because it was really important to me," Sindhu said. "I am working hard and focusing hard on myself."I kept believing that I could do it, even though a lot of people were wondering what was happening."POPOV WINS MEN'S TITLEFrance's Christo Popov captured the men's singles title, beating Japan's Koki Watanabe 21-11, 21-19 in the final.It was Popov's third title of the year, following wins at the European Championships and German Open."It's a great performance, it's one of the biggest things I've done in my life," said world number five Popov, who was the fifth seed in Tokyo."I'm actually very happy to do it in Japan. I've always liked the country, the culture and respect."Popov said his performances in Tokyo had convinced him that he can win a medal at the world championships."I know it's very difficult, way harder than here," the 24-year-old said."I think the pressure is much higher as well and the players will be ready 100 percent there."I want a medal, that's my goal."China's Feng Yanzhe and Huang Dongping won the mixed doubles title, beating Hong Kong's Tang Chun Man and Tse Ying Suet 21-14, 14-21, 21-15.South Korea's Kim Hye-Jeong and Kong Hee-yong won the women's doubles title after an epic battle against China's Jia Yifan and Zhang Shuxian, eventually triumphing 14-21, 21-15, 30-29.Indonesia's Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Shohibul Fikri beat South Korean top seeds Kim Won-ho and Seo Seung-jae 21-19, 21-17 in the men's doubles final. 

Carlos Alcaraz said he had to go on the offensive to protect his injured ankle after beating Brandon Nakashima 6-2, 6-4 on Sunday to reach the Japan Open semi-finals.The world number one hurt himself during his opening match in Tokyo and he admitted after his next outing that the injury had worried him and was on his mind on the court.The Spaniard again played with strapping showing above his left sock but it did not appear to trouble him as he brushed aside American world number 33 Nakashima with a brutal display of power tennis.Alcaraz will face Norway's world number 12 Casper Ruud in Monday's semi-finals and he said he was "still thinking about the ankle"."I had to play more aggressive than normal because I just want to let him run much more than I do in the match," said Alcaraz."You can see that there are some times that I can't go as fast as I want, I'm just taking care about the steps I'm doing in the match."That's why sometimes I was playing really big shots, because I didn't want to run from side to side," he added.Alcaraz had his service broken three times in his previous night's win over Belgium's Zizou Bergs.He gave Nakashima no such help and did not face any break points as he stayed on the front foot all match.Alcaraz is playing in Japan for the first time and he treated the crowd to some outrageous shots that grew gasps from the packed stands."First of all, I'm a huge fan of tennis, and seeing these kinds of shots, if it comes from me or not, I just enjoy," said Alcaraz."Tonight there were a few of them that I was like 'that was a really good one'."Alcaraz said the love he is receiving from the Tokyo crowd is mutual."Really grateful and really happy with the atmosphere that they're creating," he said."I just try to play in a style that I like them to be entertained watching the match."Alcaraz's semi-final opponent Ruud beat Australian qualifier Aleksandar Vukic 6-3, 6-2.World number five Taylor Fritz will play fellow American Jenson Brooksby in the other semi-final.Fritz, the number two seed, came through a tough quarter-final against another American, Sebastian Korda, winning 6-3, 6-7 (5/7), 6-3.Brooksby beat the number three seed, Denmark's Holger Rune, 6-3, 6-3.Fritz, who beat Alcaraz this month at the Laver Cup, said he had struggled with the weather in Tokyo, with temperatures around 27C for his late morning match."I wasn't expecting it to be that hot and humid," he said."Tough to play in that heat and play a lot of physical, long points."