Pranjala Yadlapalli qualifies for $125,000 WTA Mumbai Open

Pranjala Yadlapalli asserted her growing confidence by securing a qualifier spot in the $125,000 L&T Mumbai Open WTA tennis tournament on Sunday.

The 19-year-old Pranjala who had dropped one set in two weeks in winning back-to-back titles in the $25,000 events in Nigeria recently, beat Olga Kalashnikova of Georgia in the second and final qualifying round 6-3, 6-3.

In the main draw, Pranjala will challenge the fifth seed Luksika Kumkhum of Thailand.

Two-time National champion, 17-year-old Mahak Jain, however, was beaten by second seed Hiroko Kuwata of Japan 6-3, 6-4 in the final qualifying round. Mahak collected 4 WTA points and $600.

Mahak, will continue in the event, as a doubles wild card entrant with Mihika Yadav.

Ankita Raina will partner Tereza Mrdeza of Croatia, while Rutuja will pair with Hiroko Kuwata of Japan. Prarthana Thombare will partner Luksika Kumkhum.

In the main draw, which will be played from Tuesday, as the venue Cricket Club of India (CCI) would be busy with international cricket on Monday, Ankita Raina will play her training partner Rutuja Bhosale.

Karman Kaur Thandi will be able to check her progress with a first round against top seed Zheng Saisai of China.

The seedings: 1. Zheng Saisai (Chn), 2. Dalila Jakupovic (Slo), 3. Sachia Vickery (US), 4. Olga Danilovic (Srb), 5. Luksika Kumkhum (Tha), 6. Margarita Gasparyan (Rus), 7. Zhu LIn (Chn), 8. Nao Hibino (Jpn).

The results:
Qualifying singles (second and final round): Tereza Martincova (Cze) bt Sofia Shapatava (Geo) 4-6, 6-3, 6-0; Hiroko Kuwata (Jpn) bt Mahak Jain 6-3, 6-4; Pranjala Yadlapalli bt Oksana Kalashnikova (Geo) 6-3, 6-3; Urszula Radwanska (Pol) bt Natalja Kostic (Srb) 6-4, 4-6, 6-1.