Kuala Lumpur: Top Indian shuttler Saina Nehwal failed to win her women’s singles Super Series Finals opener against Minatsu Mitani of Japan here on Wednesday.
Despite having healthy leads several times in the match, Saina could not hold her nerve and blew away the chance of an easy win.
The World No. 6 lost the three-game match of one hour and eight minutes. The Japanese won 21-19, 22-24, 19-21 to better her record against the Indian to 2-3.
The Hyderabadi got off to a superb start in the year-ending showpiece event.
Saina went 12-7 up but the Japanese World No. 13 closed the gap to 19-20, but Saina managed to clinch the significant point and pocket the first game.
Saina again got off to a dream start in the second game, taking a 7-0 lead but Minatsu slowly found her footing and after the Indian saved three game points her opponent managed to clinch the fourth one to level the match.
At 19-all in the third it could have been anyone’s game but Minatsu held her nerve to win the next two points and clinch the match.
Saina faces defending champion and World No. 1 Li Xuerui of China on Thursday. (IANS)
