Every match is important for Saina at this stage as she needs to get back the feel of high-level competition again. She might be struggling and it is not unexpected given she is recovering from a surgery but as the matches wear on, she is also getting back her fighting spirit. And that is so good to see!
Saina Nehwal thus moves into the quarter-finals where she faces World No. 224 Zhang Yiman of China.
Full score: 17-21, 21-18, 21-12
SAINA TAKES THE THIRD GAME 21-12 AND WINS THE MATCH!!!!!!!
And she has EIGHT MATCH POINTS AT 20-12
She is 2 points away from the win at 19-12 now!!!!!
Saina is nearing victory! Up ahead 18-12 now!!
Another point for the lower-ranked player who is now 12-17
A long rally goes to Ayustine who trails 11-17 now
The Indian is now 7 points ahead at 17-10
Ayustine takes a point for 10-15
And extends it to 15-9
Nehwal inches ahead to 14-9
Post-break, Saina still has the advantage at 12-9.
At half-time, Nehwal is ahead 11-8.
The World No. 50 now trails 8-10
And Nehwal has gone up 10-7.
Ayustine takes a point to close in on 7-9
Saina goes up 9-6 now
She still has a 2-point lead at 8-6
Can she run away with the game now much like she did in the first half of the 2nd game?
And she extends it to 7-5
Saina has taken a slim lead of 6-5 here
And they are locked at 5-5 now!!
And that's it from us, friends! Hope you enjoyed our live coverage. We shall be back tomorrow with the live coverage of Saina Nehwal's quarter-final match. Goodbye and have a great day.