KARMAN KAUR THANDI

Qualifier Karman Kaur Thandi pushed former world No.2 Svetlana Kuznetsova to bring out her best game and was beaten 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 in the first round of the $250,000 WTA tennis tournament in China on Tuesday.

It may be recalled that Sania Mirza had overcome a twisted ankle to beat the then US Open champion Kuznetsova 6-4, 6-2 in Dubai in 2005.

The 33-year-old Kuznetsova, ranked 110, converted five of 13 breakpoints as against three of seven by the wiry Karman.

Karman Kaur Thandi beat fifth seed Danka Kovinic of Montenegro 6-3, 5-7, 6-3 in the second and final qualifying round of the $250,000 WTA tennis tournament in Guangzhou, China, on Monday.

With that win over the 23-year-old Danka, who was ranked a career-best 46 two years ago, the 20-year-old Karman, ranked 209, set up a first round against wild card entrant, Svetlana Kuznetsova, the former world No.2, US Open and French Open champion, who had twice won the Australian Open women’s doubles.

Sixth Zheng Saisai proved too strong as she beat qualifier Karman Kaur Thandi 6-4, 6-0 in the pre-quarterfinals of the $250,000 WTA tennis tournament in Nanchang, China, on Thursday.

Karman collected 42 WTA points, including 12 for qualification.

In the ATP event in Atlanta, top seeded Divij Sharan in partnership with Artem Sitak of New Zealand was beaten in the doubles pre-quarterfinals.