Malaysia Open Super Series: Saina Losses In Q-Finals

Malaysia Open Super Series: Saina Losses In Q-FinalsSaina Nehwal's splendid run at the Malaysian Open Super Series badminton came to an end as she went down fighting in the quarterfinals against fourth seed PI Hongyan of France here on Friday.

The World number 10, Saina saved four match points but finally went down 17-21, 26-24, 16-21 against the World number seven Hongyan.

Hongyan went up 4-0 in the first game before Saina levelled at 4-4.

However, Hongyan improved the tempo to claim the opening game.

After losing the first game, Saina came back strongly in the second, with a spell of smashes and clever net-play. She saved three match points to take the match to the decider.

The fifth seeded Indian shuttler levelled the game at 5-5 as both players engaged themselves in a neck to neck battle. They were locked 16-16 before Hongyan took three points in a row. But Saina levelled at 19-19 but Hongyan forced the decisive match point.

The Indian shuttler frustrated her opponent and went on to save two more match points until she got one at 25-24, which she squandered.

The 18-year-old Indian though converted the second match point to stay alive.

The third game saw Saina down by 5-9, but the Indian came back to take the lead at 10-9. However, Hongyan thwarted Saina's efforts to force another match point at 16-20. The Indian failed to come up with one last effort as Hongyan claimed her spot in the semifinal.

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