Saina Nehwal gave her all before losing steam as the ace Indian shuttler yet again succumbed to nemesis and world no.1 Tai Tzu Ying to settle for a runner-up finish at the Denmark Open here on Sunday. In an exciting but energy-sapping 52-minute final, Saina lost 13-21 21-13 6-21 to the superior Chinese Taipei rival. Tzu Ying claimed the Denmark Open title after a gap of two years. She had last won the tournament in 2016.

The win also bettered Tzu Ying head-to-head record against Saina to 13-5. In fact, this was Saina's fifth straight defeat against Tzu Ying this year. The Indian had come out second best four times earlier this year -- Indonesia Masters, All England Championships, Badminton Asia Championships and in the Jakarta Asian Games. The top seed Taipei player meant business from the start as she dictated the pace in the first game to race to a 6-1 lead.