Saina Nehwal beats world No. 1 Carolina Marin of Spain 23-21 9-21 21-12 at the World Superseries Finals in Dubai. AFP
Dubai, December 10Saina Nehwal scripted a remarkable victory over reigning world champion Carolina Marin to turn around her campaign at the BWF Superseries Finals even as Srikanth faces exit after suffering his second straight loss in the men's singles. Facing an early exit after her capitulation against Japan's Nozomi Okuhara yesterday, Saina notched up a memorable 23-21 9-21 21-12 win over the world No. 1 in a match that lasted an hour and 15 minutes. The Hyderabadi shuttler plays defending champion Tai Tzu Ying in her final league match tomorrow. World No. 8 Srikanth's campaign is almost over after he went down 13-21 18-21 to Denmark's Viktor Axelsen in a Group B match. His hopes of progressing any further hinges on a match between Japan's Kento Momota and Chinese Taipei's Chou Tien Chen. The 22-year-old from Guntur will meet Chinese Taipei's Chou Tien Chen tomorrow in his final Group B match. Game onIn the opening game, Saina led 9-4 but she misjudged a couple of shots and Marin too stepped up the pressure by dominating the net to grab the lead with six straight points. However, Saina ensured she had the advantage at the break. Marin tried to keep the shuttle at the forecourt by drawing Saina close to the net and marched ahead to 15-12. Saina fought back and wrested control at 16-15 when the Spaniard hit the net. Saina continued to surge ahead (19-16), with Marin succumbing to unforced errors. Marin, however, drew level at 19-19 but Saina earned the game point with Marin finding the net. But a couple of wayward shots later, it was 21-20 in favour of Marin. But with Marin’s forehand return going to the net and another shot falling wide, Saina earned the game point and made the most of it. In the second game, Marin gained a 7-5 lead early on. The Spaniard was called for a fault when her racquet touched the net but she continued to race ahead and entered the interval with a five point advantage. Saina tried to slow down the pace of the rallies after the break but Marin continued to dominate by playing her acute-angled strokes. The Indian faltered a bit and Marin galloped away with the second game. In the decider, Saina quickly moved to a 10-5 lead, before Marin reduced it down to 8-11. However, a mistimed shot gave Hyderabadi an 11-8 lead at the interval. Saina continued to exert pressure on her opponent after the break and pushed her to commit errors. Marin's unforced errors fuelled Saina's charge as she extended her lead to 16-8. A couple of terrific smashes took Saina to 19-9. Marin grabbed three points, but a wide shot gave Saina the match point and she took it without any further twist in the tale. Source: Article
