Indonesia Masters 2018, Second Round: Saina Nehwal vs Chen Xiaoxin, Live Match Updates

Nehwal def Xiaoxin 21-12, 21-18 to enter QFs

Updated: 25 January 2018 13:56 IST - Published: 25 January 2018 11:50 IST

And that wraps the coverage of this match.

We'll be back with the live updates from PV Sindhu's second round match.

Stay tuned to Sportskeeda.

Except for the late second game, Saina was in control for the whole match! This would give her a boost of confidence before she possibly plays PV Sindhu in the quarter-finals, provided the World No. 3 can win her second round match later in the day.

WIN

Saina grabs the 21-12, 21-18 win and marches into the quarter-finals!!!!!

Saina staves off the late surge and goes up to match points.

20-17

And Chen now trails 17-19

7 points in a row

And 16-19

That's 6 points in a row for the Chinese!

Wow! Some resilience from the Chinese!

15-19

Chen makes it 14-19

And she gets yet another.

13-19

Chen fights back to get 2 points.

12-19

And Saina goes ahead to 19-10

Just two points needed for the win

The rallies have become longer now.

Saina still very much in control of this.

17-9

16-8 in favour of the Indian

Finish line very much in sight for the former World No. 1

Saina maintains her comfortable position in this game.

15-7

And she marches ahead to 13-5

No stopping Saina.

She is determined. She is confident. She is irrepressible.

Up 11-4 at the midgame interval

Saina continues her barrage of attacking shots.

Up 7-4

And Saina has levelled this in no time.

4-4

Second game

Chen opens up a 3-1 lead

And Saina wastes no time in bagging the game.

21-12 it is to Saina

20-12

Eight game points for Nehwal

It's 19-12 for the Indian

Saina has separated herself now from her surging opponent.

She leads 17-11

But Saina needs to be careful here as the Chinese is coming back.

Chen trails 9-13

It's a six-point gap as Saina now leads 12-6

And Saina cruises to 11-4 at the midgame interval.

Saina still keeps her nose in front.

9-4

It's 8-3 for Saina

And Saina regroups and bags FOUR points on the trot.

Up 6-3

The Chinese takes 3 points on the trot and goes up to 3-2

Blazing start for Saina.

2-0

We are under way!

Good afternoon and welcome to the Sportskeeda liveblog of the 2018 Indonesia Masters second round match between India's Saina Nehwal and China's Chen Xiaoxin. While Saina is ranked 10th, the Chinese is placed at 21st in the world rankings. This is their first meeting.

Saina will be playing this match after a hugely confidence-boosting win in the first round over the World No. 8 Chen Yufei in the first round. The World Championships bronze medallist had got the better of Saina in their last meeting and the way Nehwal pulled off the win in three games, was absolutely admirable. That must have increased her hunger and she should be raring to go deep into the tournament.

In contrast to Saina's long match, Xiaoxin had a breezy affair and dropped just 13 points in her opening round. Even though she will be the fresher and younger player in this match, Saina's experience is expected to pull her through.