PTI
 
Malaysia, Dec 5: Ace shuttler Saina Nehwal defeated Thai Porntip Buranaprasertsuk in straight games to advance to the semi-finals of the World Super Series Masters Final on Friday.

The world number eight Indian beat lower-ranked Porntip 21-13, 21-19 in a 33-minute match to emerge as one of the top two players in Group A. Malaysian Mew Choo Wong is the other semi-finalist from Group A.

The mixed doubles pair of Jwala Gutta and V Diju also brought smiles to the Indian camp by winning their important encounter against Thai combo Songphon Anugritayawon and Kunchala Voravichitchaikul 21-12, 21-8 in just 20 minutes.

However, the fate of the duo hinges on the result of the match between the English pair Anthony Clark and Donna Kellogg and Indonesian combo of Hendra Aprida Gunawan and Vita Marissa.

Saina had a disastrous start to her campaign when she went down to Wong in her first match but the 20-year-old bounced back in remarkable style notching up two straight wins against Canadian Charmaine Reid, on Thursday, and Prontip on Friday.

The Hyderabadi was in brilliant form in the first game and after opening up a 6-3 lead, Saina didn't allow her rival to come back.

In the next game, Prontip stepped up and fought bravely to be neck and neck from 1-1 to 16-16 before the Indian surged ahead to close the issue in her name.

"It was a good match. I had beaten her twice before so I was confident. The first game went well but the decider got really tough. I was a little nervous too but eventually I pulled it off quite well," Saina said after the match.

"Actually one side of the court was a little slow. So I had to hit hard and I was having defence problem too but I played long rallies and tried to be patient. It paid off in the end," she added.

"I knew its not going to be easy and after the first match loss to Wong I became aware that I had to win the next two matches and I just did that. I am confident of a good show tomorrow," she said.

Saina became the first Indian to win the Indonesian Super Series in June this year. She also reached the quarter-finals of the Beijing Olympics last year. The Hyderabadi girl also won the Chinese Taipei open last year.