Saina survives a scare in Indonesia Super Series

Defending champion Saina Nehwal survived a scare in her campaign opener as she struggled past Indonesia’s Lindaweni Fanetri in an energy-sapping three-game thriller at the Indonesian Super Series Premier on Tuesday.

World number two Saina had to play out of her skin against the 14th ranked Fanetri, who posed a huge threat to the Indian before surrendering 17-21 29-27 13-21 in an hour and 14 minutes in a women’s singles first round match at the Istora Gelora Bung Karno Stadium.

The 23-year-old from Hyderabad will take on the winner of the match between Sayaka Takahashi of Japan and Thailand’s Porntip Buranaprasertsuk in the pre-quarterfinals on Wednesday. Saina, seeded second, relied on her smashes, while Fanetri dominated the net play.  In the mixed doubles, world number 29 pair of Tarun Kona and Ashwini Ponnappa prevailed over Praveen Jordan and Vita Marissa, ranked 30, 21-18 14-21 25-23 in a 53-minute engrossing battle. 

Theywill face the seventh seeded Polish combo of Robert Mateusiak and Nadiezda Zieba in the pre-quarterfinal.