We are underway in this quarterfinal. It will be Saina to serve.
Intanon wins the opening point. 0-1
Good start for Intanon. Leads Saina 3-1.
Saina wins 2 points straight to make it 3-3.
Saina has challenged a call and it is indeed OUT. Good challenge from the Indian.
Saina now leads 6-4. Good start for the Indian.
A fast shot aimed at Intanon’s body and Saian takes a 2-point lead. Leads 7-5.
Good tight game in progress with the Indian leading 8-7
That’s long from Saina. Its 8-8
Intanon in front now, courtesy that error on the net from Saina. 9-8
Wide from Intanon and Saina takes a 10-9 lead.
That looks in from Intanon, but Saina has challenged it.And it is in. 10-10.
At the interval in the opening game, Saina leads Intanon 11-10.
Intanon has challenged, what looks a wide hit. And it is indeed OUT. 12-10
Back level. 12-12.
Saina in front again. 13-12.
Three point lead for Saina now. 15-12
Intanon has cut the lead to 1.
Saina 5 points away from the winning the opening game.
Lovely deception from Intanon. 16-15.
Another error on the net from Intanon. 18-15.
18-17.
18-18
Intanon has taken the lead. Leads 19-18.
19-19. Can Saina now close this game out?
Game point for Saina. 20-19.
Saina is challenging it. and it has gone Wrong. It is indeed IN. and its 20-20
A second game point opportunity for Saina.
Intanon saves it.22-22
A third game opportunity for Saina, courtesy, that error at the net from Intanon.
Thats in again.
A fourth game opportunity for Saina. Leads 23-22
Saved from Intanon again. 23-23.
A fifth game opportunity for Saina. 24-23
WOW!!! Saved again from Intanon. 24-24.
Error from Saina makes it 25-25.
Game point for Intanon. 26-25
26-26.
Seventh game point for Saina. 27-26
Its over finally. Saina has won it 28-26 .
Wow! That was one long game but Saina finally pulled it off in the 7th game point opportunity.
Saina leads 2-1
Good start for Saina 4-1
Intanon pulls two back.4-3.
Back level. 4-4
That’s out and Intanon leads 6-4 now.
Superb from Saina on that occasion. A series of down the line hits is backed by a fine cross-court drop shot. 5-6.
6-7 in favour of Intanon
7-7
Saina in front now. 8-7.
5 consecutive points from Saina. Leads 10-7
At the interval in the second game Saina Leads Intanon 11-7.
Wow!Saina Nehwal on fire, here. Leads 17-8.
She has won 12 out of the last 13 points.
Superb from Saina. Leads 18-9. Fine down the line hit.
19-13 in favour of Saina
6 match point opportunities for Saina.
Intanon saves one more. 20-15
Saves another. 20-16
Thats it. Saina Nehwal beats Ratchanak Intanon 28-26 21-16 to move into the semifinals.
A lot of times in the past Indian players have given away unnecessary points. Saina has to guard against that.
Hello and welcome to out Live coverage of the quarterfinal at the 2016 Australian Open Superseries between Saina Nehwal and Ratchanak Intanon that is scheduled to start in a few minutes at the Sports Centre in Sydney.
This is Saina’s third consecutive quarterfinal at the Australian Open, having won the title in 2014, but she faces up against an opponent, who has had success over her in recent times. Intanon has defeated Saina in 3 of the last 5 meetings and their latest match up came at the Thomas and Uber Cup where the Thai beat the Indian in straight games 21-19 21-12. You can catch all the LIVE updates here.
Both players are coming into this match on the back of easy straight games win in their 1st and 2nd rounds and will now look to get into the final 4 stage of the competition.
The head-to-head is in favour of Saina, who has 6 of the 11 encounters between the two and she will hope to carry confidence from the past victories and inflict an 7th defeat on Intanon.
