New Delhi: Saina Nehwal crumbled under the pressure of home expectations, once again. Just when it seemed that Chinese dominance in the singles event at the Yonex Sunrise India Open Super Series would end here on Saturday, Li Xuerui turned it around at the Siri Fort Sports Complex in a thrilling 22-20, 17-21, 21-19 over the home favourite in a 72-minute women’s semifinal.
It was a match of equals, with both playing out of their skin but a few ‘key points’ made the difference. Even Saina, who initially refused to talk to the media, admitted so. “The last two shots she hit really close to the line. That made the difference. She played those points with a lot of confidence,” the 2015 champion pointed out.
Coming into the match with an 10-2 head-to head record, Li had the self-belief to pull off the match even as she trailed for the most part. Li set up a summit clash against Thai fourth seed Ratchanok Intanon, who thrashed Korea’s Bae Yeon Ju 21-8, 21-11 in the first semifinal.
In the men’s singles final on Sunday, Japanese second seed Kento Momota will lock horns with Dane Viktor Axelsen. Momota advanced after Xue Song, a game up, retired after injuring his right knee midway in the second game, while Axelsen saw off Korean Son Wan Ho 21-11, 21-11 in a lop-sided men’s singles game.
At 19-all in the decider, Li came up with a brilliant half smash in the forehand side court corner which Saina failed to return. The linesman called it ‘out’ but Li went for a referral and reached match point, despite trailing in the game 11-7 initially.
Saina then found the net on the same corner to end on the losing side as the packed stadium was stunned into silence. It was disappointing for Saina as she led throughout the match — 11-7 in the first game, 16-7 in the second and 13-7 in the third — before faltering at the end.
Saina rued not taking the first game after reaching game point. “I should have won the first game. Obviously such matches gives lot of confidence but also it can be irritating to miss out. I am good but I can improve,” the former World No.1 shuttler said on Saturday.
