Denmark Open Round 2 Update-3: Sindhu lone ray of hope in an otherwise bleak day for India
P. V. Sindhu was the only Indian left in the fray at the Denmark Open, after she brushed aside World No. 4 Tai Tzu Ying 21-12, 21-15. The Indian contingent had an otherwise forgettable outing at the Open as World No. 1, Saina Nehwal joined the long list of early exits from India, including Srikanth, Kashyap
Sindhu, ranked World No. 13, and 9 places below her opponent held a 1-3 record against her opponent, going into the match. However, she seemed unfettered by the figures as she dominated from the word go.
She opened up a lead from 4-4 in the first set and never lost the momentum. Riding on a streak of unforced errors from Ying, Sindhu clinched the set 21-12.
The second set saw Sindhu take an early lead again. The Taiwanese posed no real challenge in the second set as well and Sindhu closed the set out at 21-15 to reach the quarterfinals. Sindhu faces a tough test in the quarterfinals, the sixth seed and former World No. 1, Wang Yihan from China, whom she has beaten only once in five previous encounters.
World No.1, Saina Nehwal was earlier ousted from the Denmark Open in Round 2 as she went down tamely to Minatsu Mitani of Japan in straight sets, 21-18, 21-13.
Saina started the match confidently enough to take a 4-2 lead. The match was evenly balanced as the opponents traded the lead seven times till 10-10. However, Saina lost the plot from here on as Mitani harried her around the court. The set finally ended with Mitani bagging it 21-18.
Saina started the second set as well with a slim 3-1 lead. However, Mitani, buoyed by her success took the lead backk and never looked in the mood to return the favour. From here on, she mixed up her game with a fine array of lobs and drops, even as a tired looking Sania struggled with a series of unforced errors. Mitani opened up the lead rapidly and went on to close the set at 21-13.
It was the second time in as many months Mitani has proved Saina's nemesis, the earlier instance being the Japan Open. Back then as well, the Hyderabad lass had lost in straght sets in similar fashon at the same second round hurdle. Saina now holds a 3-3 record against the World No. 18.
Earlier, India’s Manu Attri and his partner B Sumeeth Reddy lost to Sheng Mu Lee and Chia Hsin Tsai of Chinese Taipei 19-21, 22-20, 19-21 in the men’s doubles second round of the Denmark Open Superseries Premier, in Odense on Thursday.
Earlier, Indian world number five Kidambi Srikanth lost to Indonesia’s Tommy Sugiarto 15-21, 17-21 in the men’s singles second round.