ITF Women China- $60K Luan (May 7), $25K Wuhan (May 14)

[sameerph]

Yes, Ankita avenges her loss to Guo again showing her improvement.

She is getting closer and closer to securing Wimbeldon qualies draw too now. She is now at #186 in live ranking. But as I said earlier, her last year's 48 points for Luan fall off on May 28 before cut off date for Wimbledon qualies. And she cannot add any points to her tally after this week. If one takes out 48 from her tally and replace it with 6 points from her 17th tournament, Ankita will be at 264 points and a ranking of 212. That may be enough for making the cut for Wimbledon qualies but it will be touch and go as the cut-off varies between 205 to 220 from year to year. A win in next match will take her to around 203 which should clinch it for her. 2 more wins and she will be in top 200 for at least a couple more months.

Need one big effort this week to secure it all for Ankita.

Karman won the first set 6-4 and it is 3-3 in the second set.

[suresh]

Scores have been frozen at 3-3 for a while with an interrupted status. Now it appears to have resumed.

[meyyis]

Karman loses the second set 7-5. The set was strewn with service breaks with Karman broken 4 times versus her opponent Zhang being broken thrice. Its now tied one set all. On to the decider now.

[meyyis]

Karman won the decider easily at 6-1

[R2] (5) Karman Kaur THANDI (IND,270) d. Yuxuan ZHANG (CHN,328) : 6-4, 5-7, 6-1

Up Next

[QF] (5) Karman Kaur THANDI (IND,270) vs. (4) Harriet DART (GBR,214)
[QF] (3) Ankita RAINA (IND,194) vs. (6) Fang Ying XUN (CHN,290)

[sameerph]

Again Ankita had lost her last match against Xun in November in straight sets. Another revenge match coming up for her and one where we can almost make sure her Wilmbledon qualies entry.

Karman has a touugh match against Ankita's doubles partner who has already won a 25K title this year.

[suresh]

Karman has a touugh match against Ankita's doubles partner who has already won a 25K title this year.

I would say that Ankita's doubles partner has a tough match coming up. Also, where is saniapower when Karman is doing well?

[jayakris]

Great job by our ladies! Chinese food has been good for all the Indian players lately. Live rankings say 187 and 254 for Ankita and Karman. Both career highs...

[sameerph]

Both are thru to the doubles SF too with their respective partners-

[QF] (3) Harriet Dart (GBR)/ Ankita Raina (IND) d. Beatrice GUMULYA (INA) / Jessy ROMPIES (INA) 75 26 10-8

[QF] (4) Hanyu GUO (CHN) / Karman Kaur THANDI (IND) d. Mai MINOKOSHI (JPN) / Erika SEMA (JPN) 26 63 11-9


Both their singles QF will be on simultaneously on centre and court 1 at 11 am local time ( 8.30 India time) tomorrow morning.

[Saniapower]

Karman has a touugh match against Ankita's doubles partner who has already won a 25K title this year.

I would say that Ankita's doubles partner has a tough match coming up. Also, where is saniapower when Karman is doing well?

A tall player should not struggle with serve. Tall players don't struggle with their serve. It's something unscientific. Something is wrong. More control n rhythm required while serving. Service motion should be effortless, smooth, natural, easy. I like how Sasi Mukund serves. Also accuracy is more important than power. Being tall you have take this advantage. She should look at Sharapova,Pliskova sisters n others. I don't mean to copy somebody but point of contact should be as high as possible. Avoid tactical error while serving. Don't make so many double faults!

[Observer]

Some amazing Indian girlpower being showcased!

[sameerph]

Karman had a flying start to her QF - leading 3-0 and 30-30 on Dart serve and it started raining. That is unfortunate as Karman was looking in great rhythem serving and with her forehands.

Ankita at 1-1 against her Chinese opponent when rain came.

[suresh]

Rain has interrupted the singles match. Karman is up a break at 3-0 and it 30-30 in the fourth game. Karman's ground strokes are packing a punch and she hit an outright winner on Harriet's second serve! If Harriet doesn't serve well, it is Karman's match. The score in Ankita's match is 1-1.

(Looks like Sameer has posted something similar as I writing this.)

[sameerph]

Matches restarted. It looks like games went with serve after that and Karman takes the first set 6-2.

Ankita leading 4-3 on serve in the first set.

[Saniapower]

It's all over for Karman.

[sameerph]

Ankita missed a couple of set points when Fang served at 4-5. She is now serving at 5-5.

Karman is down 2-4 in the second set.