India takes control with an emphatic 3:0 win over Uzbekistan in Fed Cup

Rutuja Bhosale grinds for three hours to earn India’s first point of the week

India bounced back strongly to beat Uzbekistan 3:0 in their Fed Cup Asia/Oceania Group I campaign yesterday, after the first match loss to China on day one.

On day two of the round-robin tournament, Rutuja Bhosale and Ankita Raina were again given singles duty, while Sowjanya Bavisetti earned her first Fed Cup point for India in the second doubles appearance with Riya Bhatia in as many days.

It took a grueling three hour long battle for Bhosale, world no 433, to emerge from one set down and earn India’s first point in the competition as she defeated Akgul Amanmuradova 2-6, 6-2, 7-5, who is ranked 35 places above her at 398 in the world. 

27-year-old Ankita Raina continued with her good form of 2020 to pocket India’s first win in the tournament. Raina won in straight sets 7-5, 6-1 against Sabina Sharipova in one hour and 34 minutes and gave India an unbeatable 2:0 lead.

Indian team’s determined efforts continued in the third and final rubber of the day to blank Uzbekistan 3:0. Riya Bhatia and Sowjanya Bavisetti triumphed 6-3, 6-1 in the doubles tie against Karimjanova Yasmia and Normurodova Setora.   

In the five-day long Fed Cup Asia/Oceania Group I tournament, the top two sides will advance to the Play-Offs to be played on 17-18 April.

India and Korea will play each other on day three. Chinese Taipei and Indonesia are the other two remaining teams in the competition who are yet to meet India.