Star Indian shuttler Saina Nehwal lost to Zhang Yiman of China in straight sets to crash out of the $120,000 Macau Open Grand Prix Gold badminton tournament.

The Chinese shuttler needed just 35 minutes to beat Saina 21-12, 21-17 in the quarter-finals of the women’s singles category. Zhang dominated right from the start, taking an 8-5 lead early in the first game.

Saina managed to draw level at 8-8 but Zhang won five back-to-back points to bolster her advantage to 14-8 before closing out the game. Saina dominated the early stages of the second game, putting the local favourite under pressure.

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The Hyderabad shuttler raced to a 6-0 lead before Zhang won five consecutive points to close the gap. It was a neck-and-neck affair till 11-11 before Zhang won three consecutive points.

Although Saina equalised at 14-14, the Chinese star produced a five-point burst to clinch what ultimately proved to be a decisive lead.

IANS