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Saina jumped into an early lead foxing Sindhu at the net with a couple of delectable drop shots. Only a handful of errors helped Sindhu to 3-7, as they went off for a brief breather.
When they returned on court, Sindhu started to work Saina on her backhand side. Saina sent three of her responses from the backhand side and a let helped Sindhu to draw closer at 7-8.
But Saina was powerful from midcourt and her smashes left Sindhu struggling to find suitable answers. The world No.4 regained control at 13-8 and she retained a five point lead when the pair broke off for a second time at 14-9.
Sindhu won three straight points to narrow the gap to 12-14 with a few well directed serves. Saina was in control each time she could deploy her irrepressible power and once again, resorted to some unabashed strikes to lead by 19-12.
Sindhu saved a game point at 20-13, taking the serve away from her opponent. But a powerful smash to Sindhu’s forehand court sealed the game in Saina’s favour at 21-15.
Power was doing the trick for Saina and she continued to strike hard and straight to Sindhu to continue tormenting her opponent. Saina gained a 3-0 lead before floating one wide on the forehand side.
At 1-3, Sindhu failed to take advantage of her serve when she dropped the shuttle into the net. Saina took a 5-1 lead when Sindhu sailed an overhead behind the baseline. At the first break, Saina already had a 7-1 edge over her opponent.
Sindhu struck a powerful smash winner to signal that there was still some life in the teenager, but Saina was in no mood to relent. As she raced away to a commanding 13-4 lead, the situation started to turn grim for Sindhu.
Sindhu sought to fight a desperate battle, but at 6-13, the world No. 10 lifted a backhand far too long to widen the gap to 14-6. Saina won the first two points after the break, but Sindhu struck another thundering smash to Saina’s backhand to gain her first point after the break.
But Saina was already far and away and when her lead grew to 19-7, that match had all but slipped away for the Warriors. Sindhu sent one wide to offer match point and Saina took it immediately with yet another smash to underline her supremacy over the fledgling youngster.
In fact Saina has been unbeaten through the tournament winning all seven of her matches. Saina’s victory over Sindhu helped the Hotshots tie the contest at 1-1 with a men’s singles and the doubles left to be played.
