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Riya Bhatia celebrated her 19th birthday on Saturday, albeit a day late by winning an ITF Futures title in Sharm-el-Sheikh on Sunday, and thus fully earning this thread. This is what her week looks like:

32 W vs KAKUYA, Akiho (JPN) 6-1 6-4
16 W vs CHEN, Pei Hsuan (TPE) 7-5 7-5
QF W vs PEDDI REDDY, Sri Vaishnavi (IND, 733) 6-4 6-3
SF W vs GEUKENS, Britt (BEL, 613) 2-6 6-3 6-2
FR W vs MIHAILA, Ana Bianca (ROU, 611) 3-6 6-4 6-0

Her opponent in the final had won the title the previous week (beating Riya in a close SF), but Riya was determined, and pulled off a fine title triumph. Her SF victim this week was the title winner two weeks ago, so she beat the last two weeks' champions to lift the trophy this week.

Riya's highest ranking as a junior was 228 when she was 15+. But she switched to the pro circuit when still quite young, and that is now beginning to pay off.

Yes, she did not play much juniors. But, in one of the grade 4 tournaments, she beat Pranjala in the final. ( who was couple of years younger though).

She started showing good results towards later part of 2015 when she reached semi final at Hyderabad futures in September beating Sharmada and Prarthana on the way. Then, she reached final at Gubarga futures beating Sharmada, Dhruti and Eetee on the way.

But, it is last week and this week that she has beaten good foreign players. His comeback wins in the semi final and final being the best.

After a break this week, she will play in couple of $10K's in Indonesia where she is likely to be the top seed in first week.

Riya Bhatia is playing in a tournament in Bosnia/Herzegovina. ( Is she first Indian player to be playing there ? )

At $15K ITF Women, Banja Luka, Bosnia/Herzegovina(Clay)

[R1] (5) Riya BHATIA (IND,571) d. (WC) Valentina LIKIC (GER,NR) 63 63

Next,

[R2] (5) Riya BHATIA (IND,571) vs. (Q) Tijana SPASOJEVIC (SRB,1028

Riya is thru to the QF.

At $15K ITF Women, Banja Luka, Bosnia/Herzegovina(Clay)

[R2] (5) Riya BHATIA (IND,571) d. (Q) Tijana SPASOJEVIC (SRB,1028) 61 57 64

Next,

[QF] (5) Riya BHATIA (IND,571) vs. (4) Berfu CENGIZ (TUR,546)

Riya lost in the QF. And finished runner-up in doubles. She also played in Serbia last week losing in the final round of doubles and first round in singles.

She has entered for an ITF event in Romania next week. Looks like she loves to play in the European clay.

She has entered for an ITF event in Romania next week. Looks like she loves to play in the European clay.

I am guessing it has quite a lot to do with funding and travel. Unless she has RamK like funding, most futures level players cannot travel the world to play their tournaments...

And she started with a win in first round.

At $15K ITF Women, Curtea de Arges, Romania

[R1] (4) Riya BHATIA (IND,572) d. Teodora STINGA (ROU,902) 76(7) 63

Next,

[R2] (4) Riya BHATIA (IND,572) vs. (Q) Evelyne Christelle Atticia TIRON (ROU,NR)

Riya is thru to the QF.

At $15K ITF Women, Curtea de Arges, Romania

[R2] (4) Riya BHATIA (IND,572) d. (Q) Evelyne Christelle Atticia TIRON (ROU,NR) 63 61

Next,

[QF] (4) Riya BHATIA (IND,572) vs. Andreea Amalia ROSCA (ROU,673)

I realised that we have a thread for Riya and moved the earlier posts on her to this thread. Today, she moved thru to SF in Romania with a hard fought win.

At $15K ITF Women, Curtea de Arges, Romania (Clay)

[QF] (4) Riya BHATIA (IND,572) d. Andreea Amalia ROSCA (ROU,673) 64 06 64

Next,

[SF] (4) Riya BHATIA (IND,572) vs. Katharina HERING (GER,704)

Riya in the final with a good win again German opponent. ... In the final, she is facing talented 17 yrs old local girl, Craciun.

At $15K ITF Women's Tournament 2017, Curtea de Arges, Romania (Red clay)

[SF] (4) Riya BHATIA (IND,572) bt Katharina HERING (GER,704) 62 63

[F] (4) Riya BHATIA (IND,572) vs (8) Georgia Andreea CRACIUN (ROU,571)

Terrific run by Riya this week to make a Futures final outside India. Let's win it all against a local who is basically at the same rank.

17 yrs old Craciun proved too strong for Riya in the final, but a still good performance by Riya as she reached the final of ITF tournament outside India.

At $15K ITF Women's Tournament 2017, Curtea de Arges, Romania (Red clay)

Singles Final
(4) Riya BHATIA (IND,572) l (8) Georgia Andreea CRACIUN (ROU,571) 16 16

Sad to see Riya failing to give a fight, but a good week overall with a finals in both singles and doubles. She is traveling to Holland for another one week $15K ITF. She might be seeded second in this tournament. I hope she doesn't play doubles this week.

She did not play doubles this week too. She only reached singles final.