Orleans: India’s World No. 20 Saina Nehwal was upset by World No. 38 Line Christophersen of Denmark, losing 17-21, 17-21 in the semi-finals.
The Denmark player started the match very well, controlling the rhythm of the match, didn’t give Nehwal any chances to comeback in the semi-final match. Christophersen only needed 28 minutes to outlast the London Olympic bronze medalist from India.
Christophersen will play No. 3 seed Busanan Ongbamrungphan of Thailand in the final.
Ongbamrungphan, on the other hand, was stretched to limit by compatriot and last week’s All England runner-up, Pornpawee Chochuwong, before powered past the No. 1 seed 18-21, 21-15, 21-18 in a battle that lasted 80 minutes.
In a match between two generations of Denmark players, the 35-year-old World No. 20 Hans-Kristian Solberg Vittinghus eventually ran out of gas in the decider, losing to 23-year-old World No. 108 Mads Christophersen 22-20, 13-21, 12-21.
Christophersen will take on Toma Junior Popov of France in the final.
Popov who stunned No. 1 seed Kidambi Srikanth of India in the quarter-final, continued his strong performance to beat No. 4 seed Kunlavut Vitidsarn of Thailand in straight-set, winning 21-13, 21-9 to advance to the final.
