A series of consistent performance against top players in the Uber Cup has boosted her confidence and Olympic bronze medallist Saina Nehwal is now hoping to win a Super Series title next month.
The Commonwealth Games champion today continued her winning run as she defeated world number 12 Minatsu Mitani of Japan 21-12 21-13 in a 41-minute match in the first singles semifinals.
"It is all about playing well in a particular tournament. I can see the improvement and hopefully in the super series events in June I should do better. I might face anyone in the next tournament, Shixian Wang, Li Xuerui, Wang Yihan, the important thing is that I am playing well, and you never know I can go on and win the tournament," Saina told reporters.
"At the start of the tournament, nobody was expecting me to do so well. I kept saying that it is about form and I am waiting for that form and it is good that I could get it. Now everyone is happy that I am playing pretty well. I beat Ratchanok Inthanon and Lindaweni Fanetri so easily.
"See, the fight is to like winning against any top players 20 or 22 in third set but I'm beating them in straight games in 10 and 12. None of the players got more than 12-15 points in the second game and it shows there is a lot of improvement and difference."
Talking about today's match, Saina said: "Mitani is a tricky player, she has got those shots which can make player go here and there, I am happy with the way I am moving in the tournament. It is good that I am beating top players, it is a good sign."
Saina had won all her matches at the Indian badminton League but struggled in other tournaments in the last one and half years with the exception of India Grand Prix Gold, where she had snapped a 15-month title drought by clinching the crown in January.
Asked if she plays well in team championship, Saina said: "It is not that I am playing well only in team event as at the end of the day, I am playing an individual match. It is not IBL, there are a lot of top players playing and there is a lot of pressure on me. Now I am better than what I was in London Olympics, Denmark and France.
