Karman Kaur Thandi defeated a spirited challenger to a 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 win over Sahaj Yamlappally in the first round of the $25,000 ITF Women’s Tennis Tournament at Tennis Project in Balliawas on Tuesday.
One day when it rained heavily early in the morning and the scorching sun of the sun gave way, the fight was intense.
The shrewd Karman inspired his opponent so much with his power game that Sahaja delivered a lively fare – thriving at speed, moving at high speed, and stroking confidently. Karman also faced the problem of breaking the strings of his racket. Amidst all this, Karman maintained his concentration to get himself into the second round.
In another match, Humera Berhams made a comeback after going 2-6, 1-5 after beating Miheeka Yadav in three sets.
In doubles, they defeated top seeds Ankita Raina and Ekaterina Yashina 6-1, 2-6. [10-7] By Sofia Kostoulas and Elena Pridankina.
Result:
Singles (1st round): Saki Imamura (JPN) bt Smriti Bhasin 4-6, 6-2, 6-2; Karman Kaur Thandi bt Sahaj Yamalpalli 6-3, 4-6, 6-4; Humera Baharmus bt Mihika Yadav 2-6, 7-5, 6-3.
Doubles (Pre-quarterfinals): Sofia Kostaulas (Bel) and Elena Pridnyakova (Russia) bt Ekaterina Yashina (Russia) and Ankita Raina 6-1, 2-6, [10-7], Vaidehi Choudhary and Mihika Yadav bt Sudipta Kumar and Riya Uboweja 6-4, 4-6, [10-7], Punin Kovapitukted (Tha) and Diana Marcinkevica (Lat) bt Kashish Bhatia and Anjali Rathi 3-6, 6-4, [10-2], Saki Imamura (JPN) and Prisca Madeline Nugroho (INA) bt Smriti Bhasin and Sahaj Yamalpalli 6-1, 6-3; Gozal Anitdinova (Kaz) and Zeel Desai bt Hamra Berhams and Jagmeet Kaur Grewal 6-1, 6-0; Luksika Kumkum and Pingtarn Plipuch (THA) BT Srivalli Bhamidipathi and Nidhi Chilumula 3-6, 6-0, [10-7], Shriya Atturu (USA) and Akanksha Nitoor bt Aarti Munian and Shreya Tataworthy 6-3, 5-7, [14-12], Momoko Kobori and Misaki Matsuda (JPN) bt Ishwari Matare and Bela Tamhankar 6-4, 6-1.
Qualifying singles (3rd and final round): Vinita Mummadi bt Sahira Singh 6-2, 6-1; Elena Pridnkina 9Rus) bt Avishka Gupta 6-2, 6-1; Kundli Majgai bt Shreya Tatavarthy 6-4, 6-7(5), [10-4], Nidhi Chilumula bt Anjali Rathi 7-5, 6-2; Mansi Wadayala bt Nandini Dixit 6-3, 6-4; Ikumi Yamazaki (JPN) bt Shriya Atturu (USA) 6-4, 6-4.