Indonesia Masters 2018, Semi-final: Saina Nehwal vs Ratchanok Intanon, Live Match Updates

Nehwal def Intanon 21-19, 21-19 to enter the final.

Updated: 27 January 2018 13:34 IST - Published: 27 January 2018 11:31 IST

She is very much looking like the player, who once used to be a terror for the other top shuttlers! And that is so good to see!

But don't go anywhere! We'll be back with the live updates of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty's semi-final match soon.

You can follow it live here when it begins.

Stay tuned to Sportskeeda.

Saina is absolutely on a roll. This will be her first final on the BWF World Tour since winning the Malaysia Masters title more than a year back!

SAINA NEHWAL BEATS THE MALAYSIA MASTERS CHAMPION TO MARCH INTO THE FINAL!!!!!

Body smash AND SAINA WINS!!!!!!!!

21-19, 21-19

A half-smash from Ratchanok to save one.

19-20

SAINA FINDS THE CORNER!!!!

2 MATCH POINTS!

Net shot and Saina up 19-18

It continues to be even.

18-18

And Saina dumps the shuttle into the net!

17-17

The Thai slightly more positive than before, especially after she managed to make Saina hit the shuttle long.

Saina still leads 17-15

Intanon comes up with a tight spinning net shot that was so far missing.

13-17

HUGE SMASH FROM SAINA!

17-11

It's 16-10 to Saina

The advantage clearly lies with Saina at the moment...the Thai looking very much out of options

And the Indian makes it 15-8

WHAT A RALLY! RATCHANOK LIES ON THE FLOOR! THE POINT GOES TO SAINA

She leads 13-8

Saina takes an 11-8 lead going into the interval.

The Thai finds the corner with a show of aggression

7-10

Saina smashes her way to 10-6 after four points on the trot by the Thai

Ratchanok finally starting to make her way back.

Moving Saina around and surprising her with net shots.

She trails 4-9

9-2

This is a demonstration of Saina's supreme confidence!

Yet another smash and Saina leads 7-2

Saina's movement and alertness have just been spot on! She is gliding on the court much faster than before and can pick up low shots in a flash, which is so good to see.

She is up 6-2

Ratchanok tried to make Saina run all over the court but the Indian comes up with a body smash.

Saina 5-1

It's 3-1 to Saina

And she leads 2-1 as the Thai failed to change the direction of the shuttle

GAME 2

Big smash from Saina after the Thai takes a 1-0 lead

1-1

First game to Saina Nehwal

21-19

Intanon sends the shuttle long!

Game point to Saina

20-19

And we are back to level

19-19

The idea was good from Saina as she went for a crosscourt smash but the execution was poor.

19-18 to the Thai

Again Ratchanok messes up at the net.

18-18

Ratchanok inches ahead to 18-16

Again Ratchanok strikes with her venomous forehand down the line smash...it has been so effective in this match!

17-16 to the Thai

And soon after, Saina levels at 16-16

The rallies are much, much longer now and Saina successfully drawing errors off the Thai's racquet.

But the point goes to the Thai on challenge and she leads 16-15

A GREAT RALLY AND IT GOES SAINA'S WAY AS RATCHANOK FUMBLES AT THE NET!

The intensity of this match has picked up!

15-15

Again Ratchanok targets Saina's backhand with a down-the-line winner

She inches ahead to 15-14

And it is 14-14 soon after

A great string of points from the Indian.

She is into the lead at 14-13

And she makes it 13-13

A great net shot from Saina which Ratchanok can't return.

Saina is pumped up

12-13

Nehwal has closed the gap to two points.

Trails 10-12

It's 12-9 in favour of the Thai

The Thai has an 11-8 lead going into the mid-game interval.

Ratchanok sends the shuttle into the tramlines.

Still leads 10-7

Saina drew the Thai to the net and sends the shuttle to the baseline with the flick of her wrist!

Smartplay!

6-8

And Saina sends a backhand long

5-8

Saina misses crosscourt smash

5-7

Ratchanok loses a challenge and it continues to be even

5-5

And we are back to 4-4