15 December,2012 08:30 AM IST | | IANS
After losing both her matches in the group of four, Saina qualified for the last four on the basis of having lost less number of games in comparison to Swiss Tine Baun and Schenk.
Saina Nehwal
The Indian came second in her group behind Thai Ratchanok Itanon, who won all three group matches. After the second round of matches Thursday, the World No 3 Indian was lying fourth and last in the group and her chances of qualifying for the year-ender looked bleak but one good match against the German helped her enter the semis.
Yesterday Saina won her eighth, and third straight, match out of 11 meetings against the German. The London Olympics bronze medallist dominated the first game winning 21 of 28 points played.
The second game was a close one with neither player giving away too big a lead. Saina's smashes aided her play and at the crucial juncture of 18-all, she bagged the three next points.u00a0In the semis, Saina faces top seed and Olympic champion of China Li Xuerui. In the other semi-final, Chinese third seed Shixian Wang takes on Ratchanok.
