PV Sindhu vs Sayaka Sato, Live Badminton Score and Updates, China Open Super Series 2017 Round 1

With that, we wrap up our China Open first round liveblog.

Hope you enjoyed our coverage. Thanks for staying with us.

Do join us tomorrow for the live coverage of the second round.

Till then, keep following Sportskeeda for all the latest updates from the world of sports.

Goodbye and goodnight!

And the BIG THREE of Indian badminton who are playing at the China Open this week -- Saina Nehwal, PV Sindhu, HS Prannoy -- are all through to the second round while all the others have fallen by the wayside.

Sindhu did win in straight games but what an effort it required! Sato just kept coming back like she has in both their previous matches!

This close win will set her up for the potentially tough matches she is supposed to play in this tournament.

Final score: Sindhu def Sato, 24-22, 23-21 in 59 minutes to enter the second round

This time, Sindhu takes it!

23-21

Sindhu kept moving Sato from side to side and it worked...2nd match point for Sindhu...22-21

Now Sato earns a game point and it is Sindhu's turn to save it for 21-21

Sindhu goes up to match point at 20-19 but Sato comes roaring back to level at 20-20

WOW! Sato has not given up! She makes it 19-19

Sindhu shows her brilliance at the net for a 19-17 lead

The pace of the game has slowed down a bit....but Sindhu is still in control...18-16

The lead is still of 2 points for the Indian...17-15

It's now Sato who is looking very spent....tired shots over the net not helping her cause....Sindhu goes up to 16-14

AND SHE LEVELS THE GAME!!!!!!

14-14

And yet another to trail by just a solitary point. 13-14

The comeback is ON! Sindhu now grabs two points on the trot to make it 12-14

It's a FOUR-point gap now with the Indian lagging behind at 10-14

Clearly, Sindhu is struggling after that marathon opener....can she still rebound in time and win this in 2?

Not much change even after the break...13-8 is the advantage for the southpaw

11-6 is the lead for Sato going into the interval.

It's 10-5 for the Japanese as she looks to tighten her grip on this game

Sindhu looking very quiet now as Sato surges to 9-4

Sindhu gets one point back...4-6 she trails

And it is 6-3 for the World No. 13 now.

We shouldn't be surprised if this game turns out to be a tight one or if Sato manages to even sneak this out. Both their previous two meetings have gone the distance. They are used to pushing each other to the limit!

The Japanese now has a 4-1 advantage

SECOND GAME

Sato makes a fast start and leads 3-0

SINDHU IS FIFTH TIME LUCKY!!!!!

SHE TAKES THE OPENER, 24-22

BUT WHAT A GAME THAT WAS!!!

FIFTH GAME POINT FOR SINDHU

23-22

And it is 22-22

WOW!

An error from Sato gives Sindhu her fourth game point at 22-21

21-21

Lefty smash and Sato saves a third game point!

WHAT AN EFFORT FROM SATO!

She has Sindhu kneeling down on the court! Rallies are of the highest quality now!

20-20

TWO GAME POINTS FOR THE INDIAN NOW

20-18

Sato's persistence has paid off...18-18 now

Sindhu leads barely...17-16 now

Long rallies are the order of the day now and Sato doing well to throw Sindhu off her rhythm....15-16 she trails

Sindhu is slightly troubled by Sato's lefty backhand volleys...Sato takes a point to make it 13-16

FOUR-point lead once again for the World No. 2.......16-12

Sindhu steadies her ship and grabs 3 points on the trot...14-12

This time it is Sato who is in front..12-11

And Sato makes it 11-11 in no time.. this is going to be a close one now!

The Japanese grabs a couple of points on resumption...9-11 she trails now

At half-time, Sindhu is up 11-7

Sato keeps pegging Sindhu back every time she inches ahead....Sindhu currently at 9-7

8-6 is the lead for the Indian right now

The Indonesia Open champion made it very close at 5-6 but just then Sindhu accelerated to 7-5

Sato now trying to wrest control away from the Indian....4-6 she trails

Sindhu is cruising at the moment....6-2 to the defending champion.