Karman Kaur Thandi

[vparam]

Would Karman have to win the tournament to guarantee herself entry into the Australian Open qualifying?

[jayakris]

^^^ I think a final should be enough, but winning it might move her inside top-220 and make everything very comfortable.

[sameerph]

Yes, but Karman has 65 points to defend too for the rest of the year ( made the final last year in Italy in November ).

So, considering a cut-off of around 240 for AO qualies, she needs around net 40 points more to make it. Considering the 65 points she is losing, she will need 105 points to make it or something more to make it safe. So, even a title this week will not be sufficient. Will need to add more points for rest of the year.

[Dinesh]

^^^ She has 2 more $60K tournaments in Canada to add more points to the tally, as well. She’s currently an alternate at the WTA125 event in Midland, USA (albeit at a distant 12th spot).

[Omkara]

take one match at a time and try to win. Try to improve your game. She has a good game but it's not consistent. If she can just play each point to her potential, these milestones of AO qualies will be met easily.

[jayakris]

^^^ Great advice. Just play each point on its merit. Don't think too much about later things that you can't control. "kaRmaNyEvAdhikArastE". Just do what you are good at; what you enjoy (your karma/duty). Results will come and things will take care of themselves.

[Dinesh]

Karman serving and hitting the balls well, clean game so far. First 6-2, breaking Sarah Beth Grey twice. Keep going!

[jayakris]

Karman is up 6-2 over Sarah Beth Grey. She is serving well today and going for her shots. Her returning is inconsistent, as is often the case. She did tee-up on a couple of serves for return winners, which helped in the two breaks (along with a couple of double faults from Sarah Beth). So far her opponent isn't playing too well and Karman is not letting her get into any rhythm. Only one rally in th first set went more than about 8 shots.

Uh oh, she seems to have twisted her knee or something. It is bothering her. On serve at 2-1 in the second set... Wow, nice... deep ground strokes in a couple of rallies helped her get another break. 3-1 and serving. Aha, more deep shots and willingness to play rallies to take points. She holds. 4-1... I took a bathroom break and she had already broken again. 5-1 and serving for the match. The knee is really bothering her on the service. Caused a DF and she faced a break point. But 2 or 3 strong serves followed. Some drama too, as the ump called a Karman shot out at the first AD in Match point, after the linesman did not. Karman - "what are you doing? there are people sitting there who can see the shot". Anyway, she served two heats and finished it off after that. 62 61

So it is a semifinal, but I am quite concerned about her knee now. Hope it is minor. She was flexing trying to let the discomfort go away. Hopefully it will be ok tomorrow.

[QF] Karman Kaur Thandi (IND,308) d. Sarah Beth Grey (GBR,341), 62 61
so
[SF] Karman Kaur Thandi (IND,308) vs Francesca Di Lorenzo (USA,251)

[Dinesh]

6-2 6-1 Stellar match from Karman today. Good to see the crowd supporting her, too. Btw, former ATP player Chris Marquis has been with Karman during this Canadian trip. I wonder what role has he assumed.

Up next, Francesca Di Lorenzo (WTA #251), who had to slug it out on the court for 3+ hours to defeat fellow American Catherine Harrison. Go, KKT!!!

[jayakris]

Yeah, Di Lorenzo played a barnburner 3 hr 15 min match today, where she pulled multiple comebacks against the 4th seed Katherine Harrison... It was an unfortunate ending too, as Harrison had a fall at 4-5 in the final set tiebreaker and got injured. Di Lorenzo has played a couple of tough three-setters this week. Hopefully she is more tired than Karman, but first I hope she won't get more injury favors with Karman's knee being an issue tomorrow.

[sameerph]

Good start for Karman in her SF. Breaks Di Lorenzo at love and than holds after saving 2 breakpoints from 15-40 down for 2-0 in first set.

Couple of easy holds and Karman leads 3-1.

Di Lorenzo holds at 30 and then break at 30 to even it at 3-3. Di Lorenzo hit a drop shot at breakpoint which was not best, Karman reached but hit it in the net.

Karman breaks back at 15. 3 great forehands by Karman and a double fault by DL. Now needs to get more first serve in, only 44% first serve % so far.

An easy hold at love and Karman leads 5-3.

DL holds at 30 and Karman has a chance to serve out for the set at 5-4.

Phew, Karman holds after a long service game with 5-6 deuces where she missed 3-4 ad-in game points and save couple of ad-out break points.

6-4 first set to Karman.

[sameerph]

Second set

DL holds at 30
0-1 Karman holds at 30, ends with an ace.
1-1 Dl holds at 15.
1-2 Karman holds at 15.
2-2 Wow, from 0-40 down Karman wins 5 straight points on DL serve to break. After 2 rasping forehands to make it 30-40, had a wondeful defensive point where she won a point from nowhere, then another winner and DL error.
3-2 Karman was in a spot of bother at 15-30 and then couple of deuces but Karman hit an ace at duece and nice rally won.
4-2 and another break from 40-15 down, she is just giving up in any service game here, now has a chance to serve our for the match.
5-2 She served out confidently with 4 first serves to hold at love.

[SF] Karman Kaur Thandi (IND,308) d. Francesca Di Lorenzo (USA,251) 64 62

[Dinesh]

Just signed in to my computer to watch the match but already got the notification that she won. Good to see that she’s continuing her good form. Must have been the serves today!

Final match against either Amy Hartono (who reached the finals last week, as well) or local favorite Katherine Sebov, for the title.

#246 with this win, can go up to #215 with a title. Go, KKT!!!

[sameerph]

Looks like her first 60K level final and her scorelines this week have been fantastic- 64 62, 62 64, 62 61 and 64 62.

[jayakris]

I had to be away all day so far, and missed watching the match. If her knee wasn't troubling her, I was quite sure she would win. Yay, Karman, it is a final!! You go lady!

[F] Karman Kaur Thandi (IND,308) vs Katherine Sebov (CA,266)