A 10th straight loss to the same opponent hurts and Indian badminton ace Saina Nehwal today conceded that she has just not been able to figure out world No.1 Tai Tzu-Ying given her huge repertoire of shots and an unpredictable approach.
Saina was beaten in straight games by Tai Tzu in the semifinals of the ongoing Asian Games, setting the Taipei player up against another Indian in Olympic silver-medallist P V Sindhu in tomorrow's final.
"I need to be quicker and have smooth movements, lot more shots as well, to finish the rallies (against her). Somewhere she will catch you. Every rally is a different rally with her. Most players have set pattern but she has got a variety of shots," Saina said after the 17-21 14-21 loss.
"I definitely (need) the hand speed, bit more movement and not give her the chance to play her shots. There's a special quality. She is someone who is not easy to read. Not all the coaches can read her. As a player I have tried to read but she always comes up with a new shot."
"I played well, she played ever better...so you have to be alert there. I tried to do but she has all kind of shots, even if you put her in a difficult position, she comes out of it."
"You have to have that game to beat her, to properly plan...but I tried. It's not like that you can't beat her. It's not impossible. You have to have a complete game because she has those deceptive shots to come out of difficult situations."
"This tournament is as good as Olympics, just that we do not have Carolina here."