PV Sindhu vs Sayaka Sato Live Score and Commentary Australian Open 2017 First Round

That wraps up our live coverage of the Australian Open 2017 for today. Do join us tomorrow for the live coverage of the second round. Till then, keep on following Sportskeeda for all updates on Indian badminton.

Goodbye!

Final score: 21-17, 14-21, 21-18 win for PV Sindhu

Wow! That was some scare towards the end but PV Sindhu gets the job done!

AND PV SINDHU FINALLY WINS!!!!!

FOURTH MATCH POINT SAVED.....20-18 for Sindhu

Sato saves THIRD Match Point to trail 17-20

And she saves another!!! Sindhu still up 20-16

Sato saves one

SIX MATCH POINTS FOR SINDHU....20-14

Sato INDEED does get a couple of points....14-19. You can never write her off!

18-12 now.....is it safe to say now that Sindhu has this in pocket or shall we see some late fireworks from the Indonesian Open champion?

And she DOES! Has rolled on to 16-11 now

Sindhu inches ahead to 13-11....can she hold on to it this time?

But Sato is not giving up. She has evened the score again at 11-11

11-9 for Sindhu at the break

It's 10-8 for Sindhu now

Remember she was leading 13-10 in the second game too from where she lost it, 14-21. She needs to be careful this time.

Now Sindhu has finally found a way to assert herself...leads 9-7

The pace of the match has slowed down quite a bit....6-6

It's 5-5

Sindhu comes back to 4-4

Sato up 4-2

Inspired by her comeback in the last game, it is Sato who makes the first move...up 2-1

THIRD GAME

1-1

Sato takes this game, 21-14

20-14

Sato about to wrap this game up now...19-14

SEVEN CONSECUTIVE POINTS FOR SATO NOW.....17-13

16-13 for Sato now

15-13 for Sato! Wow! What a turnaround!!!!!

Some fiery display from Sato there! 3 quick points to get back on level terms at 13-13

13-10 for the Indian after the break

It is Sindhu who grabs an 11-9 lead at half-time

And it is 9-9

Sato won't let Sindhu have it easy....she gets back to 8-9

Sindhu finally separates herself and inches ahead to 9-7

7-7

And it continues the same way....6-6

5-5....very close game this one is now

Sindhu evens it..4-4

Sindhu fights back for a couple of points....trails 2-4

And Sato quickly makes it 4-0

SECOND GAME

It's Sato, who makes the brighter start now..2-0

And Sindhu converts!!!! 21-17 it is

But Sindhu weathers the storm....it's 20-17 for her with 3 GAME POINTS in hand.

18-16 now....things are getting TIGHTER!!!

Some lapse here from the Indian and the Japanese starting to look stronger...takes 3 points on the trot to come back to 15-17.

And the Indian increases her lead to 17-12

Calm and collected, Sindhu keeps her nose ahead..15-12

Sindhu slowly pulling away...14-11...it's a three-point gap now