It was just not World No 2 Wang Yihan's day at the Australian Open 2016 badminton series on Saturday as she was outclassed by India's Saina Nehwal 21-8, 21-12 in the semifinals of the competition. Saina also broke a jinx after achieving the result.
It is the first time in seven matches that the Indian has picked up a win over the Chinese shuttler, who has turned out to be one of her greatest nemesis over the years in her badminton career.
The 26-year-old Indian player, who was honoured with the Padma Bhushan by the Government of India earlier this year, had an unbelievable start to the match, where she used her clinical badminton prowess to quickly get a 13-3 advantage in the first set. Yihan was seen struggling in the court, unable to match up with Saina's reflexes.
The first set went 21-8 in favour of Saina.
Similar action ensued in the second set as well, as the India quickly got to a 11-4 advantage and almost toyed with Yihan, who has had 11 wins over Saina in 16 meetings. The mettle of Saina showed all over the court and the Indian finally clinched the second set 21-12.
She will face Sun Yu of China in the Australian Open 2016 badminton final.
Meanwhile, there was disappoint in store for India's Kidambi Srikanth, who lost out to Hans Kristian Vittinghus 20-22 13-21 in the men's singles semifinals earlier in the day.
