Write an article

Saina Nehwal vs Akane Yamaguchi Live Score and Commentary Malaysia Open First Round

Akane Yamaguchi beats Saina Nehwal, 19-21, 21-13, 21-15
Updated: 05 April 2017 13:43 IST - Published: 05 April 2017 12:39 IST
...
Saina obviously needs a lot of work mentally to get back to where she was. 
...
FINAL SCORE: Akane Yamaguchi beats Saina Nehwal, 19-21, 21-13, 21-15
...
Yamaguchi wins it, 21-15
...
FIVE match points for Yamaguchi at 20-15
...
2 points for the Indian now....still trails 15-18
...
18-13 for Yamaguchi
...
16-13 for Yamaguchi....time is running out for Nehwal!
...
It is now 15-13 for the fourth seed.
...
In a mirror image of the second game, the Japanese is building on her lead again as Saina's game seems to have gone quiet for a while....14-12.
...
Now the Japanese inches ahead to 13-12.
...
It is 12-12....the rallies have definitely become longer and more gruelling.
...
3 points on the trot for the Indian....12-11.
...
After the break, a pumped-up Saina comes back to even the game, 11-11
...
Yamaguchi pockets two points to build an 11-9 lead at half-time.
...
And it is 9-9 now
...
Saina now trails 8-9....tight, tight contest
...
2 points on the trot for Saina to cut the lead to 7-8.
...
And she extends the lead to 8-5.
...
The diminutive Japanese is standing tall at the moment....she leads 7-5.
...
The two are tied at 5-5
...
Saina LEVELS at 4-4. Can she continue now?
...
It's four straight points for the Japanese as she leads 4-2 now.
...
Will it be a repeat of the second game or has Saina learnt from her mistakes?
...
And just like the previous games, Yamaguchi has come back to make it 2-2.
...
THIRD GAME

Saina opens up a 2-0 lead.