Dubai Superseries Finals: Saina Nehwal defeats Carolina Marin in a cracking three game contest

Saina Nehwal in action earlier today

You don't write champions off and you certainly don't write off Saina Nehwal. After a disappointing Day One, the Indian came up with an absolutely spirited performance on Day Two to defeat World champion Carolina Marin 23-21 9-21 21-12 in the second match of the 2015 Dubai Superseries Finals on Thursday.

The opening game saw the Indian begin in fine fashion as she raced away to a 9-3 lead before Marin came back to equal the tie at 9-9. But the Indian bounced very well after the mid-game interval and from the 12-12 mark clinched three points straight to go 15-12 up.

But Marin bounced back again to level the scores at 15-15. The cat and mouse game continued as both players exchanged leads, but at the 22-21 point, Saina clinched her second game point opportunity to take a vital one game lead.

The second game proved to be a totally one-sided affair in favour of Marin as the Spaniard showed why she exactly is the world champion, outclassing the Indian to clinch the game 21-9 and take the match into a decider.

The third and final game saw a neck-and-neck contest early on, but from the 4-4 mark, it was Saina all the way as the World no.2 assumed control of proceedings, chipping away with the points to put enormous pressure on her opponent. Despite a few hiccups towards the end, there was no looking back for the Indian after she had taken a massive lead and she closed the game 21-12 and brought her campaign well-and-truly back on track.

She will face Tzu Ying Tai of Chinses Taipei on Friday in her final match.

JUST IN! @NSaina beats World No. 1 @caro_marin2 23-21, 9-21, 21-12 in the #DubaiSSF

— Sportskeeda (@Sportskeeda) December 10, 2015

It was really tough match against Carolina but really happy to win today in three sets 23-21,10-21,21-12 . pic.twitter.com/KygZGLBUwl

— Saina Nehwal (@NSaina) December 10, 2015