Saina powers past Schenk into French Open final

Saina Nehwal entered her second straight final when she beat Juliane Schenk of Germany 21-19 21-8 in the semifinals of the French Open on Saturday.

After a close first game, where she trailed 16-19 at one stage, Saina ran away with the match, winning the next 13 points in a row before Schenk could notch one point. So dominant was the Indian that the hard-hitting German gave up midway in the second game, unable to match Saina’s rallying powers. On a couple of occasions she stood rooted to the spot as Saina sent the shuttle to a vacant region.

This is Saina’s fifth major final this year. She had won the Swiss, Thailand, Indonesia and Denmark Opens, besides taking home the Olympic bronze. After a slow start to the year, the Indian has been almost unstoppable.

Saina will take on Japan’s youngster Minatsu Mitani, whom she had beaten in the second round of the Denmark Open last week. The Indian is thus favourite to pick up her fifth title, and a possible move up the world rankings.

In the men’s singles, Malaysian youngster Daren Liew got past Denmark’s Jan O Jorgensen, and will take on Viktor Axelsen, also of Denmark.