Paris: Ace Indian shuttler Saina Nehwal suffered a shock straight games defeat at the hands of Minatsu Mitani of Japan in the finals of the French Open here on Sunday.
World number 3 Saina who was fancied to win the match over the little known Minatsu could not deliver on the expected lines and lost 19-21,11-21 in the match that lasted for 39 minutes.
London Olympics bronze medallist started off well and opened up a lead of 6-3 initially but the Japanese got back into the match and kept the contest close.
But then dow 17-19,Minatu broke free and four points on the trot helped her take the first game.
In the second game, Saina raced off to a 5-2 lead, but then the Japanese’s strategy eventually got better and she pocketed the match in no time.
By Indian Sports News Network