After a long and intense quarterfinal the defending champion in women’s singles, Saina Nehwal, is out of Yonex Denmark Open
 
On her way to repeat last year’s victory in Yonex Denmark Open Indian star player Saina Nehwal Friday faced Korean Sung Ji Hyun in the quarterfinals. In the 4 previous matches Nehwal had never lost to Hyun, but that statistic were going to be changed Friday afternoon in Odense.
 
Nehwal best in 1. game
In the beginning of the match Sung Ji Hyun took the lead. Saina made many mistakes and when Hyun took the lead at 10-7 it looked like a little surprise were on its way. But then Saina Nehwal started to show why she is seeded for the semifinals at this year’s Yonex Denmark Open.Nehwal played much faster and the mistakes became fewer. At 15-13 the Indian star took 6 points in a row and won the game 21-13.
 
Korean comeback
In the second game Saina Nehwal took the lead by 6-2 almost before the game was started.  At that time it seemed difficult for Hyun to get back into the match but the Korean made a quick comeback with 4 points in a row. At 11-11 it was still close but then Hyun stepped up. The Korean took the lead 19-12 and even though Nehwal reduced the gab a bit she couldn’t refuse Hyun to take the second game by 21-18.
 
The 3. game was close all the way. Both players seemed tired but they fought hard to book a seat in the semifinals. At 19-19 it was impossible to say who was going to win, but in the next 2 points Hyun played calm and not like she was on the edge of a semifinal at a Premier Super Series. She had matchpoint at 20-19 and in her first attempt she managed to win the game with 21-19 and send the defending champion out of the tournament.
 
“It was quite close and I know that at this level it’s tough to play against top players like I did today. I tried my best and performed well today but in the 3. game I fell and had pain in my ankle for the rest of the match,” Nehwal says and complements her opponent.
 
“It’s sad that I lost the match and now is out of the tournament, but that’s what happens. The result is fair because she played a little bit better than me today,” she says.