Saina Nehwal outclassed by Tai Tzu Ying

Top seed Saina Nehwal of India was undone by some brilliant badminton by Chinese Taipei teenager Tai Tzu Ying at the Malaysia Open semifinals today.

Nehwal, who was favourite to win this tournament in the absence of the top Chinese, had no answers to the courtcraft, deception and power of the 18-year-old, who also beat her at the 2011 Denmark Open. The Indian tried everything, but could not match the skills of her younger opponent.

Saina was in trouble early, as Tai’s dazzling range of strokes kept catching her short in every rally. On a couple of occasions Tai’s skill was breathtaking – and Saina was late in reacting to most of her shots. Tai went up 17-12 and had five game points at 20-15, but to her credit, Saina fought back, desperately staying in the rally and forcing the error from Tai, who looked hasty to get the last point. Saina caught up at 20-all, but then again Tai surprised her with a tricky shot at the net, and converted her sixth game point.

Saina was left panting behind in the second game. Tai racked up the lead, going from 5-0 to 16-10 and 18-13. The Indian tried everything – engaging her young opponent in rallies, and trying to fire in the winners from the back court, but Tai had the answers to everything that Saina could come up with. The Indian is used to making her opponents do the running, but on Saturday, Tai controlled the rallies so well that it was Saina who had to run around the court.

It has been a disappointing early season so far for Saina, who will hope that a month’s break in February will refresh her for the All England in March.