Saina sets up title clash with Li Xuerui in China Open

Saina sets up title clash with Li Xuerui in China Open

Defending champion and top seed Saina Nehwal, defeated her long time nemesis Wang Yihan from the host nation, in two sets 21-13, 21-18 at the semi-final of the China Open at Haixia Olympic Sports Center in Fuzhou, China on Saturday.

World No.2 Saina Nehwal continues to chip at the huge head-to-head deficit she holds against Wang Yihan. Saina has won four out of their last five encounters to take the record that stood at 0-8 until the beginning of the year to a respectable 4-9.

The match started with the two players trading a copule of quick points to equalize at 2-2, but Yihan won the next three points to take an early lead of 5-2. The Chinese, however, squandered her advantage as Saina staged a good come-back to steer the game in her favour to lead 11-7. But the game started to sway in favour of Yihan as she won the next four points equalize the scores. After a quick exchange they were hung in a dead-lock at 12-12 when, Saina used a rare deceptive shot to break free and won the next three points to lead 15-12. Yihan had no further opportunities, as she won only a single point in the remainder of the set, as Saina wrapped up the game 21-13 with a hard cross-court smash.

The second game was headed to a close finish, as both players exchanged points at regular intervals. Saina then unleashed a series of body-line smashes to gain the lead 11-9 at the half time mark. The game was inching the Indian's way, but a few silly mistakes and a couple of good shots from the Chinese swung the game as the score board read 17-17. The Olympic silver medallist from China made desperate attempts to get back into the game but Saina's resistance proved too hard to get through in the end. Losing just a single point in the next four, the Indian got her first match point. Saina wasted no time and closed the match 21-18 with a good judgement call.

Saina Nehwal will face former World No.1 and Olympic champion, Li Xurei from the host nation in the final to defend her title.

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