Indonesia Masters 2018, First Round: Saina Nehwal vs Chen Yufei, Live Match Updates

Nehwal def Yufei 22-24, 21-15, 21-14 to enter R2

Updated: 24 January 2018 19:36 IST - Published: 24 January 2018 18:19 IST

PV Sindhu will be in action later in the day.

You can follow her progress here when the match begins.

Defeating the in-form World No. 8 will give Saina a huge boost of confidence going forward into the tournament.

That's a great start to the season for the former World No. 1. She had lost her last encounter to the young Chinese, but this time she was sure not to have a repeat of it!

AND SAINA HAS DONE IT!!!!!

SHE WINS THE THIRD GAME 21-14 AND WITH IT, WINS THE MATCH!

Final score: Nehwal def Yufei 22-24, 21-15, 21-14 to enter R2

And Saina sends one crosscourt shot out!

She is still ahead by a comfortable margin!

19-14

Chen sends the shuttle long!

17-13

And 16-12 to Saina

It's a negative body language from the Chinese at the moment as her game is collapsing into a heap of errors and Saina looks to be in cruise control.

15-12 to Saina

Not much to choose between the two at the moment!

12-12

And it is 11-11 after a couple of errors by Saina

Saina manages to keep her nose in front at the mid-game interval.

11-9

Chen is now throwing a lot of dropshots to disrupt Saina's rhythm.

Saina still ahead

10-8

But Saina's joy is short-lived!

8-8

Some great attack by Saina to take FOUR POINTS ON THE TROT!

8-6

And Chen is now up by 2 points!

6-4

The lead keeps switching hands in this game.

Saina went up to 4-3 but the Chinese inches ahead again to 5-4

Game 3

Chen Yufei has a slender lead early on in the decider

3-2

AND SAINA TAKES THE SECOND GAME

21-15

WE'LL HAVE A DECIDER!

SEVEN GAME POINTS FOR NEHWAL

20-13

And 19-12

Can Saina close this out and force a decider?

18-12 is the lead for Saina

Chen seems to have lost her way!

Chen has lost her usual sharpness

Saina up 16-12

Saina still has her nose in front.

14-12

Saina inches ahead to 13-10

WHAT A RALLY!

And it ends with Chen misjudging Saina's shot!

Saina up 12-10

Saina goes into the mid-game interval with a slender lead of 11-10

And once more we are all even in this game!

8-8

Great attack in response from Chen!

7-8

Body smash from Saina!

8-6

The great angles that Chen can create with just the flick of her wrist are incredible to watch!

She trails 5-7

Saina continues to break down Chen's forehand

She leads 6-4

And we are back to all even!

4-4

Saina has a mini lead now

Attacking well

4-3

GAME 2

1-1

And Saina can't put the shuttle over the net on Chen's game point. Game goes to the Chinese!

24-22

What a way to save a fourth game point! Chen pushes the shuttle deep into the corner!
22-22

It continues to be even.

Saina squanders 3 game points.

21-21

And yet again, it is the same result!

20-20

Again Saina lifts the shuttle and it is duly punished

20-19

20-18

2 game points for the Indian

Saina finds the corner!

19-17

Direct hit at Chen's body!

Saina up 18-17

And 17-17 after Chen miscues a volley

A lot of aggression from Chen to finish the point!

Leads 17-16

AND WE ARE ALL LEVEL AFTER CHEN MAKES A COUPLE OF MISTAKES!

16-16

Saina sends the shuttle long after some great exchanges between the two

Trails 14-16

An error at the net from Chen

She leads, albeit barely.....15-14

Again great attack from Saina as she starts to take time away from the Chinese

13-14

But Chen has begun to impose her game again and now drawing errors from Saina

Leads 14-11

Saina not lifting the shuttle much...the low height and the early returns from Saina making it tough for Chen

Saina 11-12