Malaysia Masters 2019 Badminton Live: Saina Nehwal vs Deng Joy Xuan Live score & Updates | 16th January 2019

Nehwal def Xuan 14-21, 21-18, 21-18 in 1 hour 5 minutes.

Updated: 16 January 2019 09:51 IST - Published: 16 January 2019 01:49 IST

After Saina's win, we hope Kidambi Srikanth will join her in the second round as well.

Stay tuned for live coverage of that match!

She looked very tentatve and unsure in the early stages and was thoroughly getting overpowered.But Nehwal shows her resilience once more as she settles down, calms herself midway through the second game and then held off a surging Xuan to get the win!What an amazing amount of hard work to get the first BWF win of the year!!!

What a fightback that was from Saina! She came back like only she can!!!!!!

Final score: Nehwal def Xuan 14-21, 21-18, 21-18 in 1 hour 5 minutes.

And SAINA NEHWAL WINS!!!!!!!!!

Match points for Saina!!!!!

20-18

Xuan is now 18-19

Some danger for Saina!

Xuan is still fighting!!!

Takes two points in a row to trail Saina 17-19

The match has crossed the hour mark!!

19-15 now after Xuan takes a couple of points.

19-13 now for Nehwal.

Just two more points required for the win!!

It's 17-12 now for Nehwal.

And Saina adds another crucial point to make it 16-11

15-11 is the lead now for Saina!!

Xuan still hasn't given up!

Takes two points and trails 10-13

12-8 lead for Nehwal on resumption!!

It's 11-7 for Nehwal going into the break.

10-6 to Saina now!!

It's 9-3 for Saina!

Fantastic stretch of the game from the former champion!!!!

Now Saina has raced away to a FOUR-POINT advantage!

7-3

Saina has been able to maintain her two-point lead despite some stiff resistance.

5-3

4-2 to Nehwal

Saina up 3-1 now

It's 2-1 to Nehwal in the decider.

And Saina sets up a decider!!!!!

She takes the second game 21-18

What a gritty performance that was from the former champion! Struggled but still managed to raise her level under pressure!!!!

Two game points for the Indian!!!!

20-18

19-17

Saina is two points away from a decider!

18-16 to Saina now

Close, but Saina's still in the lead.

17-14 to Saina now!

Poised and calmer, Saina looks to have found her A-game!

Saina is now showing sparks of the champion she is.

Up 15-12

Saina is steadily adding points after the break.

Up 13-11 now.

Has she been able to weather the storm?

Saina has an 11-10 lead at the time of the break.

Saina draws level!

10-10

The lead does indeed go back to Xuan

She is up 10-9

A vital point for the Indian to go up to 9-8

The game is even now.

8-8

We finally have a match in our hands or will Saina falter again?

Now she gets back a couple.

Saina trails 6-7

Five points in a row lost by the former World No. 1.

Saina trails 4-7

Once more Saina gives up the lead.

With 3 points in a row, Xuan is in the lead at 5-4.

Nehwal makes a fine start to the second game and moves up to 4-2

Xuan converts her first game point.

It's 21-14 for Xuan.

This has not been a good start to the new season for Saina so far.

Saina took three points to reduce the deficit but couldn't prevent her opponent from going up to 20-14.

18-11 now.

Saina needs to act fast otherwise the game is almost over!

16-11 for the lower-ranked player.

Saina is struggling to find out ways to tackle her.

Xuan is now leading 15-10

Danger time for Saina?

Xuan looks very much in control of the proceedings after the break.

Up 13-10

Three points in a row for Xuan and she leads 11-10 at the time of the midgame interval.

A determined Xuan wins two points in a row and makes it 10-10

Finally Saina has got back the lead!

9-8