Defending champion Saina Nehwal entered the quarterfinals of the Djarum Indonesia Open after registering a comfortable straight-games victory over Sayaka Takahashi of Japan here on Thursday.
R.M.V. Gurusaidutt and Ajay Jayaram also advanced to the quarterfinals in men’s singles while it was curtains for Sourabh Varma and B. Sai Praneeth.
Gurusaidutt scored a with a hard-fought win over Kazumasa Sakai of Japan and Ajay took out fourth-seeded Indonesian Sony Dwi Kuncoro.
World No.2 Saina took 39 minutes to outplay her 24th-ranked opponent 21-13, 21-19 in a women’s singles second round match at the Istora Gelora Bung Karno Stadium.
The second-seeded Saina, who relied on her smashes and superior net play, will next take on Carolina Marin of Spain.
The two started on equal footing and were tied till 6-6 before Saina surged ahead to open up a gap of six points.
The Japanese managed to clinch a few straight points to reduce the gap to 13-14 at one stage, but the Indian showed her class and easily wrapped up the first game 21-13.
Takahashi got her act together in the second game as the two engaged in a fierce battle. Tied at 12-12, the Japanese won three points on the trot to make it 15-12 and then succeeded in maintaining a slender lead over Saina.
But the higher ranked Indian battled on and turned the tables at 18-18 and eventually roared back into the contest. After an intense fight, Saina finally won the game and the match 21-19.
Gurusaidutt prevailed 21-12, 9-21, 21-19 over Sakai in a contest that lasted a little less than an hour. After a comfortable 12-21 win in the opening game, Gurusaidutt was completely outplayed by his opponent in the second game.
The deciding game was a see-saw battle and the scores were tied at 17-17 before the Indian upped the ante in time to advance to the next stage. Gurusaidutt will meet Tommy Sugiarto of Indonesia in the last-eight stage.
Ajay in last eight
Ajay Jayaram beat Sony Dwi Kuncoro 22-20, 21-12 in 38 minutes but Sourabh was thrashed by the third seeded Pengyu Du of China 21-16, 21-16 in 37 minutes.
In the last match of the day, top seed Lee Chong Wei beat Sai Praneeth 21-18, 21-12 in 38 minutes. India’s campaign ended in both mixed doubles and women’s doubles categories.
While Ashwini Ponnappa and Pradnya Gadre lost 21-13, 21-19 to the local combination of Anneke Feinya Agustin and Della Destiara Haris in little over half an hour, Ponnappa along with her mixed doubles partner Tarun Kona were handed a 21-14, 17-21, 21-13 defeat by Robert Mateusiak and Nadiezda Zieba of Poland in 42 minutes.
The results:
Men: Singles: R.M.V. Gurusaidutt bt Kazumasa Sakai (Jpn) 21-12, 9-21, 21-19; Pengyu Du (Chn) bt Sourabh Varma 21-16, 21-16; Ajay Jayaram bt Sony Dwi Kuncoro (Ina) 22-20, 21-12; Lee Chong Wei (Mas) bt B. Sai Praneeth 21-18, 21-12.
Women: Singles: Saina Nehwal bt Sayaka Takahashi (Jpn) 21-13, 21-19.
Doubles: Anneke Feinya Agustin & Della Destiara Haris (Ina) bt Ashwini Ponnappa & Pradnya Gadre 21-13, 21-19.
Mixed doubles: Robert Mateusiak & Nadiezda Zieba (Pol) bt Tarun Kona & Ashwini Ponnappa 21-14, 17-21, 21-13.
