Saina Nehwal vs Akane Yamaguchi, Live Badminton Score and Updates, Denmark Open Super Series 2017 Quarter-finals

But the Indian contention is still not over!

Stay tuned to Sportskeeda for the live updates from Srikanth Kidambi's match HERE and HS Prannoy's match HERE.

Sadly, Saina's confident performances in her first two rounds did raise hopes of a deeper run from the former champion. It just did not happen. Hopefully, she can take the positives out of this and be prepared to do well at the French Open in Paris next week.

That was complete domination by the defending champion in just 29 minutes! Her deceptions made it very hard for Saina and towards the end, Saina looked very tired and out of options. Could her late night match yesterday have a role to play with it? Saina did look very drained and it is obvious that she did not get enough rest.

Nonetheless, it should not take anything away from Yamaguchi, who had a plan and played a brilliant match from start to finish.

Final score: Akane Yamaguchi defeats Saina Nehwal 21-10, 21-13.

And it's over! Akane bags it, 21-13

Saina saves one match point

20-12 for Akane

Saina lacks the energy and the answers.

Akane makes it 18-12

This is slipping away from Saina's grip now. 17-12

Time running out for Saina?

And she makes it 15-12

It's once more a TWO-POINT lead for the Japanese...14-12

Saina pulls one back to 12-13

This will be a test of nerves now. Akane has extended her lead to 13-11 now.

Akane goes up to 11-10 at the interval.

10-10 it is

Saina fumbles to retrieve a drop....9-9

Now Akane is peppering errors and trails 8-9

And Saina leads 8-7 now

It's all even at 7-7

7-5 is the current lead for Yamaguchi.

She is still 2 points ahead....leads 6-4.

Just like the opening game, the Japanese again goes up to 5-3.

But right now, she is not able to do it. Akane once more asserts her supremacy over the former World No. 1 and leads 4-2

Still early stages of this game....Saina needs to make a statement soon enough to put the Japanese on the backfoot.

And they are even at 2-2

SECOND GAME

It's 1-1

That was a very impressive start from the youngster. Can Saina make a comeback? Let's find out what happens in Game 2.

And Yamaguchi wraps up the opening game, 21-10.

It's 19-10 now for the fourth seed. She looks close to bagging this game.

Akane still looks very, very comfortable and leads 18-9

Saina is great at coming back into a match despite a slow start. So, never count her out.

Now, the Japanese has extended her lead to 15-8

Currently, there is a lack of aggression from Saina and she is struggling to anticipate Akane's shots.

It's a SIX-POINT LEAD for the Japanese..13-7

At halftime, Saina trails 6-11

Great deception from Saina at the net. She is now 6-10 behind.

Saina is trying to move her around the court now....still trails 4-8

7-3 advantage for the Japanese

And she makes it 6-3....slow start for Saina?

Yamaguchi pulls away for a 5-3 lead

It's all level at 3-3

2 consecutive points to the Japanese for a 3-2 lead.

Nehwal goes up, 2-1

It's 1-1

We are under way!

Yamaguchi will serve first.

What a match we have on the cards! Can Saina continue her remarkable journey at the Denmark Open? We'll soon find out.

The players are on court now.

Saina Nehwal vs Akane Yamaguchi, Live Badminton Score and Updates, Denmark Open Super Series 2017 Quarter-finals

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