Kuala Lumpur: London Olympics bronze medallist Saina Nehwal defeated Singapore's Gu Juan in the women's singles event to cruise into the second round of Malaysia Open on Wednesday. However, India's rising star PV Sindhu went down fighting to a higher-ranked Tine Baun of Denmark in her first round match.
Top seeded Saina Nehwal, got the better of Juan's challenge in 29 minutes and beat her at the Putra Stadium.
In the first game, the two matched each other to be tied at six points before Saina displayed some aggressive net play to open up a three-point lead to 9-6. Thereafter she just sailed ahead to clinch the game comfortably. The Hyderabadi, however, did not start well in the second game and was at one stage trailing 4-7 courtesy some brisk play the Singaporean.
But smashes from the 21-year-old Indian proved too much for the unseeded Juan to handle and she eventually lost the game and match. Saina will next take on Hong Kong's Pui Yin YIP in the second round.
Meanwhile, Sindhu fought hard before going down to the third seeded Baun in a three-set encounter, lasting 49 minutes.