Billie Jean King Cup (previously Fed Cup) - India

[sameerph]

Ok, Ankita wins the second set 6-1. She is fighting back. Crucial third set coming up.

[sameerph]

Ankita wins it 57 61 63 to level it at 1-1. She is such a fighter.

But, now mostly she will have to come back for doubles too as the result hinges on that match.

[sameerph]

Yes, Ankita and Rutuja are back together playing against Kumkhum and Plipuech. So, same 2 players playing all matches for both us and Thailand.

[sameerph]

1 set all in doubles. 46 63 cannot get closer than this.

[jayakris]

Come on India. Let's do it.

[jayakris]

OUr ladies were up 5-1 in the third but got broken. They jumped on the Thai ladies in the next game and won it, 46 63 62 ... YEAH !!!

India d. Thailand, 2-1. It took two three-set comeback wins from our warrior, Ankita!! Good job, Rutuja too. I too had not expected Rutuja to get a win on Khumkhum, so we had to do the job in the other two matches, and we did it. I guess this will help avoid any regulation. Beating the top 3-4 teams will be tough there, but there is certainly some decent chance against Korea and Uzbekistan.

[sameerph]

Wow, what a performance by Ankita in particular coming back from a set down in both her matches.

Beating the top 3-4 teams will be tough there, but there is certainly some decent chance against Korea and Uzbekistan.

Korea has brought a very weak team and match-ups against both them and Uzbekistan are easier than today's match.

Only China and Japan are tough although they too have not brought their best teams. Japan does not a single top 100 player. So, is there a window of opportunity there?

[jayakris]

Seeing the ranking of the players, there is a chance against everybody but China and Japan. But we have only two players to throw out there. Rutuja does have the game to beat the #2 of other teams, but she rarely plays full matches at her best game and so rarely pulls upsets and could get upset too. The Japanese #2 Mai Hontama was up at #126 last year; down to 179 now but is in great form, having won the Maribor W40 two weeks ago and all that - so we can't expect a miracle against Japan. But we should fancy the chances on at least one win against Korea or Uzbekistan; but may be both. I think we do need one more win because Thailand might beat those teams. Rutuja needs to win a match, though. We can't continue to have Ankita play 2 matches a day.

Wish Karman were healthy. But that is a wish we have had for years now

[PKBasu]

Terrific performance by Ankita Raina today, beating Peangtarn Plipuech first, and then combining with Rutuja to beat Peangtarn and Laksika KumKhum (who has rarely, if ever, lost a match to an Indian) in the deciding doubles rubber. Three cheers for Ankita Raina

Plipuech is ranked 315 in singles (CH 175) and 133 in doubles, but Ankita still had to deliver in crunch situations -- and did.

[sameerph]

Seeing the ranking of the players, there is a chance against everybody but China and Japan. But we have only two players to throw out there. Rutuja does have the game to beat the #2 of other teams, but she rarely plays full matches at her best game and so rarely pulls upsets and could get upset too. The Japanese #2 Mai Hontama was up at #126 last year; down to 179 now but is in great form, having won the Maribor W40 two weeks ago and all that - so we can't expect a miracle against Japan. But we should fancy the chances on at least one win against Korea or Uzbekistan; but may be both. I think we do need one more win because Thailand might beat those teams. Rutuja needs to win a match, though. We can't continue to have Ankita play 2 matches a day.

Ok, I did not check results of Mai Hontama. Just saw the rankings of those 2 Japanese singles players of #144 and #179 and got excited that there may be a chance for one of Ankita/Rutuja to pull off an upset and than anything can happen in doubles. But, that is too much of optimistic thinking I guess.

Also Ankita cannot be playing 4 hours a day daily for 5 straight days. So, against one of the matches against Korea or Uzbekistan, we need to give Ankita a rest and hope that Rutuja/Sahaja/Vaidehi pull it off. All of them are higher ranked than all but one of the singles players from Uzbekistan and Korea,

[prasen9]

When do we play whom? Based on that, the rest schedule for Ankita should be decided.

[Dinesh]

Ankita

India plays Uzbekistan today. Their first singles player is ranked #991, all other players are unranked including the veteran Amanmuradova. All other I hope our team gives Ankita an off day and fields Vaidehi. If worst comes, Ankita can always play the deciding doubles (assuming Rutuja handles the #991 player).

[sameerph]

Ok, I saw Uzbek #1 Nigina Abdulraimova in team nominations yesterday. But, it seems she withdrew and is instead playing W60 in Switzerland. Strange that she chose to miss BJKC cup at their home. But, good for us. Today, China rested their top 2 players against them , played 2 unranked players and still won comfortably.

So, Ankita must be rested tomorrow.

[prasen9]

Agree. And, if it makes sense to rest Rutuja, she too.

[arjun2761]

We could also rest our top players against China assuming that we are likely to lose to them anyway.