India Open Super Series: Home hopes end with Saina Nehwal’s exit

China’s Li Xuerui celebrates her 22-20, 17-21, 21-19 win over Saina Nehwal in the semi-final. (Photo: PTI )

Saina Nehwal crumbled under the pressure of home expectations, once again. Just when it seemed that Chinese dominance in the singles event at the Yonex Sunrise India Open Super Series would end here on Saturday, Li Xuerui turned it around at the Siri Fort Sports Complex in a thrilling 22-20, 17-21, 21-19 win over the home favourite in a 72-minute women’s semi-final.

It was a match of equals, with both playing out of their skin but a few ‘key points’ made the difference. Even Saina, who initially refused to talk to the media, admitted so.

“The last two shots she hit really close to the line. That made the difference. She played those points with a lot of confidence,” pointed out the 2015 champion, who now has a losing 2-11 head-to head record against Li.

Li set up a summit clash against Thai fourth seed Ratchanok Intanon, who thrashed Korea’s Bae Yeon Ju 21-8, 21-11 in the first semi-final.

In the men’s singles final on Sunday, Japanese second seed Kento Momota will lock horns with Dane Viktor Axelsen. Momota advanced after China’s Xue Song, a game up, retired after injuring his right knee midway in the second game, while Axelsen saw off Korean Son Wan Ho 21-11, 21-11 in a lop-sided men’s singles game.

At 19-all in the decider, Li came up with a brilliant half smash in the forehand side court corner which Saina failed to return. The linesman called it ‘out’ but Li went for a referral and reached match point, despite trailing in the game 11-7 initially.

Saina then found the net on the same corner to end on the losing side as the packed stadium was stunned into silence. Li, on the other hand, found a lot of young admirers who chased her for autographs and pictures and the Chinese obliged them with a smile.

It was disappointing for Saina as she led throughout the match — 11-7 in the first game, 16-7 in the second and 13-7 in the third — before faltering at the end.

Asked about the match, Li quickly took out her cell phone to look for Chinese translation and displayed “difficult”. She struggled to find an English word to describe it. “Saina played very well,” she added.

Saina rued that she could have taken the first game after reaching game point.

“Such matches gives lot of confidence but also it can be irritating to miss out.”