Saina Nehwal loses again in Super Series Finals

The world number 3 Indian surrendered 13-21 16-21 to Ratchanok Intanon of Thailand, a day after Denmark's Tine Baun stunned Saina 14-21 21-11 19-21 in her tournament opener.

Saina, a bronze medallist in the London Olympics, failed to put up a fight against world number 9 Ratchanok, who hardly broke a sweat to pocket the match in just 34 minutes at the China Resources Shenzhen Bay Sports Centre.

Seeded fourth, Saina looked a pale shadow of herself right from the start of the opening game as her Thai opponent took a 14-5 lead.

The 22-year-old Hyderabadi, however, made a spirited comeback by winning seven consecutive points to reduce the lead to 14-12.

Leading 15-13, Ratchanok had the last laugh and riding on her fierce smashes, the Thai girl won six straight points to pocket the first game.

Trailing by a game, Saina fought back in the second game. It was neck-and-neck between the two till 16 points when Ratchanok again took off and bagged the next five points on the trot to clinch the match.

Incidentally, this was Saina's first loss to the unseeded Thai player since November 2011. By virtue of today's win, Ratchanok has improved her head-to-head record against the Indian to 2-4.

Saina will next play world number 4 Juliane Schenk of Germany against whom the Indian has won seven of their 10 encounters.

Saina will now have to win big against Juliane besides keeping an eye on the outcome of the other group matches to keep her semi-final hopes alive.

It gets lonely at the top, says Saina Nehwal

She has been in the top rung for a while now and London Olympics bronze medallist shuttler Saina Nehwal says it's "tough" to be a champion and it gets "lonely" at the top.

"Looking back, I feel it is tough to be a champion. It gets lonely at the top," Saina said.

The hectic daily routine, however, doesn't allow her to feel the loneliness, according to the world number 3 Indian shuttler.

"But then again, you don't have the time to think about the loneliness. You just have time to train, eat, sleep and get up again, so there is no time left to feel bad," Saina

told 'BIG CBS PRIME'.

"You have your parents who will support you, you have your friends who will be there for you, you have your coach who will guide you. Whatever sacrifices I've made have made me who I am today."

It's well-chronicled that Saina indulges in eating ice creams and aloo paranthas made by her mother and asked how does the 22-year-old Hyderabadi celebrate her victories, she said, "I sleep till late on Sundays".

"I am reserved and I don't like partying but I like going for movies, shopping for gadgets, jackets and shoes and watching tennis. But you don't know how time flies on

Sundays," added the shuttler who is now in Shenzhen, China for the Super Series Finals.

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