Malyasia Open SSP/ Singapore open SS- April 1-12, 2015

[Sin Hombre]

live on youtube.

[sameerph]

Also live on starsports2 in India.

Li leads 11-10 in second game.

[Sin Hombre]

Not sure why Saina struggles with this side of the court, lost the second game 21-17.

[Varma]

I like how fit Saina looks as compared to her Chinese opponent. Started the 3rd game tentatively and felt 0-3 behind, but recovered soon to dominate and win 11 of the next 15 points to go up 11-7. Li seems visibly tired and trying every bit to slow down the game. Saina should keep up the pressure and pin Li down.

- Varma

[Varma]

Li's smashes are way too good. Saina fed her high shuttles and allowed her to score 4 devastatingly consecutive smashes, then misjudged the next one to allow Li to level at 12-12.

Got her serve back with a nice smash to go up 13-12
Got too carried away and crossed her racquet over the net to lose a point...13-13
Level at 14-14 now.
Long rally...Saina left this one anticipating it to be out, but the line judge ruled it in. Saina challenging the call.....Damn it, it barely touched the line. Down a point at 14-15.
13 point rally....After a couple of drop exchanges, Saina quickly pushes one past Li, 15-15
Quick low smash 16-15
16-16
Good defense of a smash and places it well, 17-16
Misses the line narrowly 17-17
I love the way Saina is moving Li all over the court. I am really surpised how quick Saina's reflexes are. Her defense is very good. She needs to work on her smashing, which seems weaker compared to the rest of her game.
19-18
19-19 (Looks like a controversial call. I was busy typing and missed what happened here. Losing this point seems to have affected her focus a tiny bit)
Damn it, misses a smash to give Li a match point 19-20
Played an aggressive point to make it even 20-20
Too gentle on a drop shot....20-21
After a couple of drop exchanges, gave a high shuttle to let Li Smash to victory. The shuttle was way high and too slow. Li had more than enough time to get into a comfortable position and smash it with all her might.

Unfortunate end, but I really like Saina's game, although I watched her after a very long gap. I would love her to develop a killer smash. Her current one is way too gentle. She doesn't seem to leap any high at all for smashing, even when she has time. I also like the fact that she looked very fresh for someone who played full week last week, and a semi this week. Fitness was definitely not an issue at all for her loss today. Kudos to her for that.

- Varma

[sameerph]

Damn, Saina should not have lost this match. Li Xurei was not in top physical condition. But, I guess Saina also must be tired after playing continuously for 2 weeks. Li really dominated in the end with her net play. But, it was close and anything could have happened in the end.

Marin beats the other Chinese Shixian Wang to reach final.

I expect Marin to beat Li considering the fitness of both the players. I guess if that happens, Saina will move down to no.3.

[srini]

Saina is not known for her defense. She attacks better than other chinese players like Shixian Wang (who hardly smashes). Many of the arm chair critics like me can characterise her style as one-dimensional which will prove difficult if she needs to play with Li Xureri, Marin or even less acclaimed players like Tai Tzu-Ying. She didn't come across her as TTY lost in an earlier round, but if she did, Saina would be easy meat for her.With that said, Saina did improve under Vimal Kumar's tutelege (ie, she is attacking better than she used to) and has led the ROW against chinse batallion. Women's singles in badminoton is far more open thanks to Saina, Marin, Sindhu and Rathanok.

[sameerph]

Btw, Carolina Marin beat Li Xurei 19-21 21-19 21-17 to win the title. Marin seems to be the one who plays well on big occasions.

Nonetheless, Li will be no. 1 next, Saina no.2 and Marin no.3.

The reports that Saina is opting out of next week's Singapore open SS but will still likely to regain world no.1 after that week as Li and Marin too are not playing.

Saina Nehwal to lose top spot, but could regain it

Vimal confirmed that Saina has withdrawn from the Singapore Open and that she will return to Bangalore on Monday to train for the continental meet, the Badminton Asia Championships in Wuhan, China, from April 21-26.

[bujilover]

This week at OUE Singapore Open

MS Qualification:

QR1 Ajay Jayaram vs Daren Liew (MAS)
QR1 [3] Boonsak Ponsana (THA) vs R.M.V GuruSaiDutt
QR1 [4] B.Sai Praneeth vs Rasmus Fledberg (DEN)

[bujilover]

Ajay has just won his QR1 match 21-13 14-21 21-17

[bujilover]

Sai has lost the 1st game 18-21 to the Dane

[sameerph]

Sai Praneeth won the next 2 games 21-18, 21-12 to win his match.

Guru is tied 1 game all against 3rd seed in qualies Boonsak Posanna having lost the first 18-21 but won the second 21-18.

[sameerph]

Guru too won 21-18 in third. That is a very good win against a higher ranked player.

All three play their final qualifying matches shorty.

Ajay against Simon Santoso who is actually a defending champion here, Guru against Taiwanse Tzu Wei Wang and Praneeth against Malyasian Zulfadli Zulkiffli.

[sameerph]

Ajay lost against Santoso 16-21 18-21 but Guru and Praneeth qualified. Guru won 21-9 21-13 while Preneeth got a walkover when he was leading 11-6 in the first game.

So, these 2 join Kashpap, Srikanth and Prannoy in singles main draw while Thulasi is the only Indian in womens singles draw.

[sameerph]

These are our singles match-ups for tomorrow -

At OUE Singapore Open

[R1] P. C. Thulasi (IND,39) vs. Line KJAERSFELDT (DEN,37)

[R1] PARUPALLI Kashyap (IND,17) vs. LEE Hyun Il (KOR,26)
[R1] (Q) R. M. V. Gurusaidutt (IND,43) vs. (4) SON Wan Ho (Kor,5)
[R1] H. S. Prannoy (IND,14) vs. WONG Wing Ki Vincent (HKG,24)
[R1] K. Srikanth (IND,4) vs. Tien Minh NGUYEN (VIE,24)
[R1] B. Sai Praneeth (IND,37) vs. (2) Jan O JORGENSEN (DEN,2)