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India Open 2018, First Round: Saina Nehwal vs Sofie Holmboe Dahl, Live Match Updates

By Sportskeeda Desk | Last ModifiedJan 31, 2018 14:09 IST

Nehwal wins 21-15, 21-9

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14:09 (IST)31 JAN 2018

You can follow PV Sindhu's first round match LIVE here.

14:03 (IST)31 JAN 2018

Don't go anywhere. Stay tuned to Sportskeeda as we'll bring you live updates from PV Sindhu and Kidambi Srikanth's matches.

13:59 (IST)31 JAN 2018

The young Dane gave some stiff resistance in the first game by prolonging the rallies but didn't have anything left to challenge Saina in Game 2.

13:58 (IST)31 JAN 2018

And Saina wraps it up.

21-15, 21-9

She is through to R2

13:58 (IST)31 JAN 2018

11 match points for the Indian.

13:57 (IST)31 JAN 2018

And Saina has a TEN-POINT lead now.

19-9

13:56 (IST)31 JAN 2018

It's 17-8 to the World No. 12

13:55 (IST)31 JAN 2018

It's 15-7 for the former champion

13:52 (IST)31 JAN 2018

Saina is pretty much in control of this match.

12-7 she leads

13:50 (IST)31 JAN 2018

Saina leads 11-6 at the midgame interval

13:50 (IST)31 JAN 2018

Saina has a four-point advantage currently.

10-6

13:48 (IST)31 JAN 2018

She is ahead 8-5

13:46 (IST)31 JAN 2018

And she builds a 6-4 lead

13:46 (IST)31 JAN 2018

Saina is ahead marginally.

5-4

13:44 (IST)31 JAN 2018

And it is 3-3

13:43 (IST)31 JAN 2018

It's evenly poised in the initial stages.

2-2

13:41 (IST)31 JAN 2018

Second game

1-1

13:38 (IST)31 JAN 2018

Saina takes the first game.

21-15

13:38 (IST)31 JAN 2018

Five game points for the Indian.

20-15

13:37 (IST)31 JAN 2018

Saina has marched ahead to 19-15.

2 points away from the game

13:36 (IST)31 JAN 2018

And the Dane gets the point.

Trails 14-17

13:36 (IST)31 JAN 2018

A challenge from Sofie as her shot, that apparently lands in the corner, is called out.

13:34 (IST)31 JAN 2018

Saina inches ahead to 16-13

13:32 (IST)31 JAN 2018

15-11

Saina looking pretty comfortable at the moment

13:32 (IST)31 JAN 2018

14-11

The momentum is with Nehwal now

13:31 (IST)31 JAN 2018

And Saina amps up the intensity here.

2 quick points to break away from an 11-11 tie and lead 13-11

13:29 (IST)31 JAN 2018

Saina takes a slender lead of 11-10 going into the midgame interval.

13:28 (IST)31 JAN 2018

And....

10-10

Kudos to the young Dane for making it so competitive.

13:26 (IST)31 JAN 2018

It continues to be even.

9-9

13:25 (IST)31 JAN 2018

8-8

Pretty competitive game

13:24 (IST)31 JAN 2018

Saina wrests away the lead.

8-7

13:24 (IST)31 JAN 2018

And we are all level here.

7-7

13:23 (IST)31 JAN 2018

Sofie has just one point lead.

7-6

13:22 (IST)31 JAN 2018

Third point in a row for the Indian.

The comeback is truly on!

5-6

13:21 (IST)31 JAN 2018

And yet another.

Saina trails 4-6

13:21 (IST)31 JAN 2018

Saina pulls one back after a long rally.

3-6

13:20 (IST)31 JAN 2018

Sofie leads 6-2

13:20 (IST)31 JAN 2018

And Saina trails 2-5

13:19 (IST)31 JAN 2018

The young Dane has inched ahead to 4-2

13:19 (IST)31 JAN 2018

Saina takes some time to settle into a match. That is showing here.

13:18 (IST)31 JAN 2018

And she goes up to 3-1

13:18 (IST)31 JAN 2018

Sofie has a 2-1 lead

13:18 (IST)31 JAN 2018

We are under way!

It is 1-1

13:17 (IST)31 JAN 2018

Holmboe to serve first.

13:16 (IST)31 JAN 2018

The match is about to start. Saina will play her first match since reaching the final of the Indonesia Masters last week.

13:16 (IST)31 JAN 2018

Good afternoon and welcome to the blog.

23:02 (IST)30 JAN 2018

Welcome to the Sportskeeda liveblog of the India Open 2018 first round match of Saina Nehwal. The Indian, who is a two-time champion at this tournament, has been seeded fourth this time.

She faces the 55th ranked Sofie Holmboe Dahl of Denmark in her first round match. This is the first meeting between the two.

This is a match of complete contrasts. While Saina has rich experience, the Dane is only 21 years and has just one International-level title to her name.

Nehwal has come to this tournament with a lot of confidence. She beat three top-10 players on her way to the final at the Indonesia Masters last week. Those performances showed that she has much improved fitness now and is moving very well on the court these days.

Saina would definitely like to build on that form and the India Open is the perfect place to keep it going as she will have a lot of home support.
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