Saina Nehwal Loses to Carolina Marin - All England Open Final Highlights

World No. 3 Saina Nehwal lost to World No. 6 Carolina Marin 21-16, 14-21,7-21 in the All England Badminton Championships final. After making a fantastic start and clinching the first game, Saina faced a remarkable resurgence from the Spaniard. Marin bounced back with renewed vigour and left the Indian in dire straits by winning the next two game. Saina failed to capture the coveted title for the third time as she had lost in the All England semifinals in 2010 and 2013. This was Saina's first defeat against Marin in four meetings.

Catch all the highlights of the game here:

7: 40 (IST): Marin - "It's an amazing feeling. To beat Saina is a very happy feeling,"

7:37 PM (IST): 7-21 That's it! Marin pulls out an amazing victory. Trailing in the first game, Marin bounced back with sensational stroke play to overcome the World No. 3 Saina Nehwal!

7:34 PM (IST): 5-17 Marin is cruising towards the title. Saina seems to have lost the sting in her strokes and her movements look very slow.

7:32 PM (IST): Cracking rally. Marin has a spring in her step and Saina looks mentally jaded!

7:31 PM (IST): Amazing turnaround from Carolina Marin. She looked all at sea after the first game but has bounced back with immense vigour!

7:28 PM (IST): 4-11 Uphill task for Saina now. Marin is reading her movements and smashing them on either side of her!

7:27 PM (IST): Immense rally from Marin. Fell down, got up, leapt and then just put it wide!

7:25 PM (IST): 2-6 Marin is now unleashing her complete range on Saina. The Indian looks a tad dejected!

7:24 PM (IST): The Indian fans are chanting Saina's name but the Spaniard is ruling the court! No respite for the Indian ace shuttler.

7:21 PM (IST): Saina needs some inspiration here. The Spaniard has dominated the last game and now has the upper hand.

7:20 PM (IST): Terrific fight back! 21-14, the World Champion has grabbed the 2nd game and this game is now heading to a third with Marin with the momentum!

7:16 PM (IST): 14-19. Marin has opened up a lead now. She is bossing the court now. Saina rattled for sure!

7:15 PM (IST): 13-16 Saina is under immense pressure. Marin is reading her drop shots and leaving her high and dry!

7:13 PM (IST): WHAT.A.POINT! Marin is roaring now. The grunt is back and Saina losing ground against the Spaniard!

7:11 PM (IST): 11-12 Saina is definitely under the pump now. The World Champ is in the lead now.

7:09 PM (IST): 11 -9 Marin is dominating the game but Saina is holding on to the lead.

7:07 PM (IST): 10-9 Brilliant rally, yet again. Marin is definitely back in this game now. Attacking Saina and making her do the heavy lifting.

7:04 PM (IST): 9-5 Much better movements from Marin but Saina still holding the edge. This game is far from over. Marin is known for his fighting spirit and those who watched the final in Lucknow will be familiar with the tenacity of this Spanish champion.

7:03 PM (IST): The World Champ is fighting back. 4 points in a row. Saina looks a touch rattled!

7:02 PM (IST): Three points in a row for Marin and the screaming is back!

7:00 PM (IST): 6-1 This is going away from Marin very soon. Very high quality play from Saina and the Spaniard looks all at sea!

6:59 PM (IST): Fantastic rally. Both players ripping into each other. Marin is stuck in mid court while Saina is displaying some deft strokes.

6:54 PM (IST): 21-16 Special rally to clinch the first game. Saina Nehwal has been in magnificent touch while Marin is not having her best day. Saina Nehwal has displayed some fantastic court-coverage and Marin has just not been able to corner her.

6:53 PM (IST): Marin is not giving in so easy. Saina may have the game point but the Spanish is roaring back.

Saina Nehwal in red hot form!

© Reuters

6:50 PM (IST): 17-9 Marine trying too hard now. She has been cornered by some quality placement from Saina.

6:47 PM (IST): This is fantastic play from Saina Nehwal. She is making Marin do all the chasing.

6:46 PM (IST): 13-8 - Vintage Saina there - combination of power and placement.

6:45 PM (IST): Gorgeous smash from Marin. Saina trying to manipulate the court but Marin was onto that in a flash!

6:43 PM (IST): 11-6 Saina looks in top form and Marin is struggling to keep up with the Indian ace.

6:41 PM (IST): 10-6 Saina putting pressure on Marin and has opened up a lead. Marin though feisty as ever is snapping at Saina's heels.

6:40 PM (IST): Fantastic rally from both players trying to stretch each other. Saina just placing it wide!

6:38 PM (IST): 6-3 Saina with the early lead.

6:37 PM (IST): The match has already got some intensity about it. Both players looking to attack from the start.

6:35 PM (IST): First point to Marin.

6:30 PM (IST): The players are on the court. Saina is in top form but the left-hander Marin is a tough competitor. She gave Saina quite a headache in the Syed Modi finals and has impressed one and all in the last 18 months.

6:27 PM (IST): Meanwhile the mixed double final was won by Liliyana Natsir and Tontowi Ahmad of Indonesia beating the Chinese pair of Zhang Nan and Zhao Yunlei.

6:25 PM (IST): Here we go! History beckons Saina Nehwal. On the occasion of Women's Day, India's champion shuttler takes on the World Champion at the finals of the prestigious All-England Championships. This one should be a cracker!

6:12 PM (IST): Saina Nehwal has been in sublime touch in the tournament and has not dropped a single game on her way to the finals. Marin, on the other hand, has just dropped one. Based on the global odds though, Saina is a favourite. She is leading the odds by 66%, while Marin is trailing at 34%.

5:58 PM (IST): Although Carolina Marin is the reigning World Champion, Saina Nehwal has a 3-0 advantage over the Spanish, defeating her in the 2014 Australian Open finals and then in the epic finals of the Syed Modi Grand Prix in Lucknow in the beginning of this year.

5:55 PM (IST): This is only the second time in a decade that the All England Championships will witness two non Chinese players feature in the women's singles final. Last time it happened was in 2013 when Tine Baun of Denmark beat Thai Ratchanok Inthanon in the final.

5:53 PM (IST): Saina Nehwal - Road to final

Bellaetrix Manuputty (Indonesia) 21-8; 21-12

Kim Hyo Min (South Korea) 21-15;21-15

Wang Yihan (China) 21-19;21-6

Sun Yun (China) 21-13; 21-13

5:50 PM (IST): Carolina Marin - Road to final

Chloe Magee (Ireland) 21-14;21-15;21-11

Porntip Buranaprasertsuk (Thailand) 21-10;21-16

Sung Ji Hyun (South Korea) 21-18;22-20

Tai Tzu Ying (Chinese Taipei) 21-18;21-11

File photo of Saina Nehwal who has been in great form at the All England Championship.

© AP

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Saina Nehwal became the first Indian in 14 years to reach the final of the All England Open Badminton Championships by virtue of a straight games win over China's Sun Yu here on Saturday.

The third seed became the first Indian woman to enter the summit clash of the prestigious $500,000 tournament by defeating the tall Chinese 21-13, 21-13 in 50 minutes at the Barclaycard Arena, taking a 2-1 lead in career meetings. (Read More)

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Saina Nehwal is a match away from creating Indian badminton history. And it could come on Women's Day. Saina will clash with Spain's Carolina Marin for the All-England crown in Birmingham Sunday evening.

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