Saina Nehwal staged a splendid recovery to enter the third round of the World Badminton Championships at the Pierre de Coubertin stadium in Paris on Wednesday.
The world No 2 Indian ace, seeded second, got the better of Hsiao Huan Chen of Chinese Taipei 20-22, 21-15, 21-8.
Saina next plays the winner of the match between Mew Choo Wong and Ella Diehl in the pre-quarter-finals.
The unseeded Chen surprised the Indian ace, who got a bye in the first round, by taking the first game 22-20, after the Saina she blew away a 20-18 lead.
But Saina then showed the stuff that took her to the No 2 ranking. She engaged her opponent in long rallies and broke away after 12-12 to take the second game 21-15.
Scores leveled, the Indian ace dictated terms in the decider and wore down her opponent. She raced to a 6-0 lead and allowed her opponent just eight points before finishing off proceedings.
Saina had made the quarter-finals of the tournament last year, where she had lost to Wang Lin of China.
"I know I was a little tight in the first game and it normally happens when you play your first match in a World Cup," said Saina.
"Actually, I should have won the first game after leading by a couple of points but that's the nature of the game."
After Chen had taken a 2-0 lead in the second game, Saina slowly got herself back as the lead exchanged hands till the Indian led 13-12.
The Hyderabadi shuttler then slowly built up the lead to 17-13 and with a beautiful drop shot came within a point of taking the second game. An error from Chen gave Saina the game as she fist clenched let out a scream.
"At that point, I was controlling the rallies and was willing to take a few risks at the net," Saina said. "I knew she was tiring a bit and her game wasn't as focused as she had been in the first."
Taking advantage of a tiring Chen who was now making too many errors, Saina raced off to a 7-0 lead in the third and deciding game. She used her drop shots to good effect and had seven drop shot winners in the decider.
At 15-2, Chen tried a late revival and won a few points to cut the lead but Saina had her measure up by then and closed off the decider at 21-8.
"It's not something new that I am facing," said Nehwal.
"I have played her twice and once played a closer three game match in the 2009 Malaysia super series and only recently I beat her in straight games in the Uber Cup."
Asked if she was afraid of losing the match at any stage, Saina smiled and replied, "I never think of losing. That thought never comes to me. I know every match will be tough and I just have to play and strategise according to the situation."
Image: Saina Nehwal in action against Hsiao Huan Chen of Chinese Taipei. Photograph: Reuters
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