MUMBAI: Saina Nehwal is always game for tough challenges. So what if she has drawn nemesis Pi Hongyan of France, ranked fifth in the world, in the All England opener.
Saina simply says bring it on. "I'm actually happy with the draw and facing Hongyan first up," the 10th-ranked Indian told TOI shortly after the draw was released on Tuesday.
"All England is one tournament I desperately want to win, but if it doesn't happen this year, I'll always have another shot at it next season. In fact, if I get through a tough match to start with, it'll only be a huge confidence booster," said Saina, who chose to skip the on-going National Championship in Indore to give her playing shoulder some rest before the $200,000 Super Series event to be held in Birmingham from March 3-8.
Saina has never been comfortable playing fourth seeded Hongyan, considered one of the fastest movers on court and one with lethal drops.
The junior world champion trails the 30-year-old Frenchwoman 1-4, with the lone win coming at the Super Series Masters Finals in Malaysia last December.
Saina isn't willing to look beyond the first round at Birmingham. "I've played her several times to know how to beat her. But, she's one of the toughest players on tour and it's going to be another long match," said Saina.
Source: http://sports.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Tough_opener_for_Saina_Nehwal/articleshow/4146224.cms
Saina simply says bring it on. "I'm actually happy with the draw and facing Hongyan first up," the 10th-ranked Indian told TOI shortly after the draw was released on Tuesday.
"All England is one tournament I desperately want to win, but if it doesn't happen this year, I'll always have another shot at it next season. In fact, if I get through a tough match to start with, it'll only be a huge confidence booster," said Saina, who chose to skip the on-going National Championship in Indore to give her playing shoulder some rest before the $200,000 Super Series event to be held in Birmingham from March 3-8.
Saina has never been comfortable playing fourth seeded Hongyan, considered one of the fastest movers on court and one with lethal drops.
The junior world champion trails the 30-year-old Frenchwoman 1-4, with the lone win coming at the Super Series Masters Finals in Malaysia last December.
Saina isn't willing to look beyond the first round at Birmingham. "I've played her several times to know how to beat her. But, she's one of the toughest players on tour and it's going to be another long match," said Saina.
Source: http://sports.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Tough_opener_for_Saina_Nehwal/articleshow/4146224.cms
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