The 22-year-old Saina, who was given the top billing in the tournament, didn't break much sweat as she brushed aside Pui Yin Yip 21-12 21-9 in a lop-sided women's singles match that lasted only half an hour.
The Olympic bronze medallist Indian will next take on Nozomi Okuhara of Japan in the quarterfinals at the National Sports Complex here.
Saina has never faced off with the world number 33 Japanese shuttler, who beat Indonesian Lindaweni Fanetri 21-13 21-13 in another match.
However, India's top male shuttler, Parupalli Kashyap went down fighting to sixth seed Jan O Jorgensen of Denmark 17-21 14-21 in the second round of the men's singles event.
The Olympic quarterfinalist, Kashyap, who also jumped one spot to crack the world number 10 bracket, however, could not reach the quarterfinals as he struggled with his right leg against Danish Jan Jorgensen, following a muscle pull suffered yesterday in the first round.
Saina, who had reached her career best world no. 2 in December 2010 for the first time, was lagging behind initially but she rode on her 12 smash winners to tame Pui Yin Yip, who played well at the nets. (MORE)