Five Indian girls qualify into main draw of $25,000 ITF women’s tennis in Solapur

It was an impressive performance by the Indian girls as they overcame the challenge from quality opponents to take five spots in the main draw of the $25,000 ITF women’s tennis tournament at the MSLTA Tennis Complex in Solapur on Monday.

Two-time national champion Mahak Jain continued to assert her supremacy over the tall and strong Humera Shaik, with convincing ease. Mahak will play Berfu Cengiz of Turkey in the main draw.

Soha Sadiq pipped Punnin Kovapitukted of Thailand 11-9 in the super tie-break. She was rewarded with a first round against fellow qualifier Freya Christie of Britain.

Ramya Natarajan beat Evgeniya Burdina of Russia in straight sets, and will challenge the fifth seed Naiktha Bains of Britain.

Vaidehi Chaudhari defeated Zeel Desai 10-2 in the super tie-break to set up a first round against another qualifier Steffi Carruthers of Samoa. Jennifer Luikham was the other Indian girl to qualify and will play Anna Morgina of Russia.

Second seed Ankita Raina will play Valeriya Strakhova of Ukraine in the first round. Pranjala Yadlapalli is returning to the circuit after an injury lay-off and will open against third seed Yue Yuan of China.

Rutuja Bhosale will have her first round encounter against Katie Boulter of Britain. Akanksha NItture and Saumya Vig are the other two wild card entrants apart from Pranjala and Mihika Yadav. Saumya will play Riya Bhatia in the first round.

The results:
Qualifying singles (second and final round): Vlada Katic (ISR) bt Prathiba Narayan Prasad 6-2, 6-1; Mahak Jain bt Humera Shaik 6-4, 6-1; Freya Christie (GBR) bt Pareen Shivekar 6-1, 6-4; Ramya Natarajan bt Evgeniya Burdina (RUS) 7-6(3), 6-3; Vaidehi Chaudhari bt Zeel Desai 6-4, 5-7, [10-2]; Steffi Carruthers (SAM) bt Pooja Ingale 6-1, 6-1; Jennifer Luikham bt Deeksha Manju Prasad 7-6(5), 6-4; Soha Sadiq bt Punnin Kovapitukted (THA) 3-6, 6-4, [11-9].

(Courtesy: The Hindu)