Australian Open | Saina, Srikanth progress; Sindhu crashes out

BySaketh RVK, SportsCafe Editor

06/08/2016

World No.10 P.V.Sindhu crashed out in the first round of the Australian Open after losing to a player ranked 30th places below her 15-21, 19-21. Saina Nehwal, Tanvi Lad, Sameer Verma and Kidambi Srikanth progressed to the next round even as qualifier Gurusaidutt bowed out from the event in Sydney.

Two-time World Championship bronze medalist P.V.Sindhu suffered a shocking upset loss to 40th-ranked Kim Hyo Min in 55 minutes at the Xiamenair Australian Open on Wednesday. Unlike what the score-line suggests, the first game was a tight one with both trading points until 14-14. Hyo Min then upped the ante and sealed the game. Sindhu never seemed in contention in the 2nd game, always playing catching up. A late resurgence did raise hopes, but it was too late.

Kidambi Srikanth progressed past the opening round of a tournament for the first time since 30th March as he beat Ng Ka Long Angus 21-16, 21-12. This was revenge for the three-game defeat Srikanth suffered at the Hong Kong player’s hands at the German Open. The Indian will now face Sony Dwi Kuncoro who beat 6th seed Tian Houwei.

Saina Nehwal shrugged off the defeat to Carolina Marin in Jakarta and beat Australian Joy Lai 21-10, 21-14 to progress to the second round. Joy took an early 5-2 lead in the first game before Saina fought back to head into the break 11-7. Saina then ran away with the game, letting her opponent win only three points to her 10. Joy started the second game on a positive note too, leading her higher-ranked opponent 11-10 into the interval. She seemed in good touch and looked set to win the game.

But at 12-14, Saina opted to switch her style. She kept the shuttle in play, staying safe and waiting for Joy to make the errors. This worked wonders for the 7th seed, and she won nine straight points to win the game 21-14.

Also reaching the second round was Tanvi Lad with an 18-21, 21-14, 21-11 win against Australian Tiffany Ho and Sameer Verma with a 22-20,15-21,21-15 win against Ihsan Maulana Mustofa. Gurusaidutt could not continue his run from the qualifiers though as he lost to Hu Yun, the 14th-ranked Hong Kong star 19-21, 21-12,15-21 in 54 minutes. The men's doubles pair of Nikhar Garg and Anil Kumar Raju lost 10-21,12-21 to V Shem Gong and Wee Kiong Tan in the first round.

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