ITF W40 Bhopal, Pune Jan 16-29, 2023

[sameerph]

First round results at Pune-

Rutuja Bhosale (IND,426) d. (Q) Mana Kawamura (JPN,1290) 64 42 retd
(Q)Tina Nicole Smith (AUS) d. (WC) Vaishnavi Adkar (IND,717) 76 62
[6]Irina Khromacheva (RUS,244) d. (WC)Akanksha Dileep Nitture (IND,1110) 61 61
Karman Kaur Thandi (IND,270) d. Sahaja Yamalapalli (IND,458) 67 64 61
[8]Ankita Raina (IND,258) d. (WC) Shrivalli Rashmikaa Bhamidpaty (IND,743) 30 Ret.
En Shuo Liang (TPE,344) d. (WC) Vaidehi Chaudhari (IND,522) 26 61 61

So, only 3 Indians remain in second round.

[R2] Rutuja Bhosale (IND,426) vs. (1) Tatjana Maria (GER,71)
[R2] Karman Kaur Thandi (IND,270) vs. (Q) Ksenia Zaytseva (RUS,829)
[R2] (8) Ankita Raina (IND,258) vs. Gozal Ainitdinova (KAZ,585)

[jayakris]

Vaidehi and Sahaja

[jayakris]

Easy win for Ankita

[R2] (8) Ankita Raina (IND,258) d. Gozal Ainitdinova (KAZ,585), 64 62

Rutuja's and Karman's matches follow in order on the same court. Rutuja has a tough task against the top seed. If Karman can take care of the qualifier who had upset the 3rd seed earlier, she will face Ankita next and we will be assured of a semifinalist.

[sameerph]

Karman easily wins her match.

[R2] Karman Kaur Thandi (IND,270) d. (Q) Ksenia Zaytseva (RUS,829) 63 63

Karman's opponent was a 18 year old talent who has a current ITF junior ranking of #6 . She had also qualified and reached QF last week. So, it was not an easy opponent.

So, that brings an all Indian QF which means at least 1 Indian will be in the SF.

[QF] (8) Ankita Raina (IND,258) vs. Karman Kaur Thandi (IND,270)

Head to head is 2-1 in favour of Karman.

[prasen9]

Rutuja lost 6-1, 6-0.

[sameerph]

Yeah, forgot posting about that match. It is ridiculous that world #71 is playing here and is allowed to taking away chance of raking up points by other players. She is obviously going to be very hard to beat for anyone.

Btw, that match between Ankita and Karman is going to be also a battle for India #1 spot. Ankita is 249 in live rankings while Karman is at 256. But, if Karman beats Ankita she will overtake her as India #1. May the best player on day win.

[jayakris]

Ankita was not ready to hand over the India #1 spot to KKT again.

[QF] (8) Ankita Raina (IND,258) d. Karman Kaur Thandi (IND,270), 46 75 76(4)
so
[SF] (8) Ankita Raina (IND,258) vs (1) Tatjana Maria (GER,71)

[arjun2761]

OK, time for Ankita to pull off the upset in home conditions! Lately, that hasn't been working out but here's hoping for the best.

[PKBasu]

That really was a terrific match between the India #1 and 2. Karman led 5-3 in the second set before Ankita began that fightback. In the third set too, Karman had the early lead but Ankita kept fighting back and took the tiebreak 7-4.

Ankita is also in the semifinal of the doubles, partnering Prarthana Thombare.

[jayakris]

Another SF loss for Ankita. Way too many SF losses for a while year. But this wasjust unfortunate, that the opponent was a top-75 player (former top-50) who shouldn't be at this event really!

[SF] (8) Ankita Raina (IND,258) l. (1) Tatjana Maria (GER,71), 36 16.

Both ankita/prarthana and rutuja/yashina lost i the doubles SFs today, so we are done with this event. Good that at least Ankita did better than her seeding and made an SF. She will move up to 240 now in ranking.

[sameerph]

Both ankita/prarthana and rutuja/yashina lost i the doubles SFs today, so we are done with this event.

Ankita and Prathana have made it to the final.

[jayakris]

^^^ Oh, I misread the results .... Good!

[PKBasu]

[SF] 1-Ankita Raina/Prarthana Thombare (IND/IND) d. 3-Rosalie VanDerHoek (NED)/Diana Marcinkevica (LAT) 64 61

Easy win over a good pair. WTA live ranking shows them at Bhopal last-16, not F. So the live ranking should be around 135 for Ankita and 160 for Prarthana.

[sameerph]

Ankita and Prarthana won the doubles title in Pune.

[F] (1) Ankita Raina (IND) /Prarthana Thombare (IND) d. Gozal Ainitdinova (KAZ) / Zhibek Kulambayeva (KAZ) 46 75 10-8

26th doubles title for Ankita in her career and third with Prarthana. 25th doubles title for Prarthana.

Ankita is 133 in live rankings, Prarthana is at 160.