Saina beats Ratchanok to enter second round of Indonesia Open

Three-time champion Saina Nehwal edged out Thailand’s Ratchanok Intanon in a thrilling opening round to make a rousing start to her campaign at the Indonesia Super Series Premier in Jakarta on Tuesday.

Saina, who has slipped out of the World top-10 for the first time in seven years, rallied her way to a 17-21 21-18 21-12 win over the eighth seeded Thai player, who is a former world champion. Saina, who had a 7-5 head-to-head record against Ratchanok, will face another Thai player Nitchaon Jindapol in the next round and is likely to clash with World No. 1 Tai Tzu Ying in the quarters.