Kuala Lumpur: Saina Nehwal defeated Tine Baun (21-13, 21-23, 21-13) to make her way into the semi-finals of Maybank Malaysia Open Badminton Championshi here on Friday.

In the match that lasted for 56 minutes, the fourth seed Indian ace was at her element best in the first set, as she displayed some fine game to get the better of her fifth seed Denmark rival 21-13. Coming into the second game, Baun took the initial initiative and maintained a narrow till the half way mark. But Saina came back from behind to equalize the score and thereafter it was a battle of supremacy till the end, which Baun won at 23-21.

However, Saina was in no mood to let her chance go and it resulted in a meek fight from her opponent in the last game which the Indian won at 21-13.