FUZHOU (CHINA), Nov 15: Top seed and defending champion Saina Nehwal went down in yet another final this year, losing the women�s singles summit clash of the $700,000 China Open Superseries Premier to reigning Olympic champion Li Xuerui in straight games here on Sunday.
Sixth seed Xuerui, who won here in 2012 and 2013, needed only 39 minutes to beat World No.2 Saina 21-12, 21-15 at the at the Haixia Olympic Sports Center.
With this victory, the World No.7 extended her domineering record to 10-2 against the Indian, having won the last six encounters between them.
Xuerui took home $52,500 for her title win while Saina, whose last victory against Xuerui came in 2012, was rewarded $26,600. This was Saina�s fifth final of the year.
She won twice at the India Grand Prix Gold and India Open Superseries but has lost every summit clash since then.
She went down in the All-England and World Championships final to World No.1 Carolina Marin of Spain and now to the former World No.1 Xuerui, who is a two-time Worlds silver medallist. � IANS
