ITF W50 Bengaluru, Pune, Indore- Jan 14-Feb 4, 2024

[sameerph]

So, this tough W50 series starts from tomorrow in Bengaluru. Ankita Raina is the only Indian direct entrant to the main draw and she is likely to be 8th seed.

From the qualifying draw, it looks like Rutuja and Sahaja got 2 of the wild cards, not sure who got the other 2.

None of the Indians are among top 8 seeds in qualifying draw, Vaidehi seeded 11th, Shrivalli 13th and Zeel 14th. So, all 3 have to upset 1 higher ranked player to get into main draw.

[sameerph]

So, in today's first round qualifying matches, Shrivalli was the only Indian to beat a foreign players as she beat 622nd ranked Ekaterina Yashina from Russia 75 76(5). Others lost to their higher ranked foreign opponents. Zeel and Vaidehi beat their Indian opponents.

So, we will have 3 Indians in the final qualifying round and all have tough matches against higher ranked players.

[Q2] (13) Shrivalli Rashmikaa Bhamidipaty (IND,538) vs. (4) Tina Nadine Smith (AUS,401)

[Q2] (11) Vaidehi Chaudhari (IND,503) vs. (5) Thasaporn Naklo (THA,415)

[Q2] (14) Zeel Desai (IND,549) vs. (2) Anna Siskova (CZE,357)

[sameerph]

Only Vaidehi managed to beat a higher ranked foreign player.

[Q2] (13) Shrivalli Rashmikaa Bhamidipaty (IND,538) l. (4) Tina Nadine Smith (AUS,401) 26 57

[Q2] (11) Vaidehi Chaudhari (IND,503) d. (5) Thasaporn Naklo (THA,415) 62 62

[Q2] (14) Zeel Desai (IND,549) l. (2) Anna Siskova (CZE,357) 16 26

[sameerph]

So, with Ankita, 4 wild cards and Vaidehi we have 6 Indians in main draw.

And these are match-ups in main draw.

[R1] (WC) Soha Sadiq (IND,1295) vs. (1) Darja Semenistaja (LAT,143)

[R1] (8) Ankita Raina (IND,223) vs. (Q) Viktoria Morvayova (SVK,486)

[R1] (WC) Rutuja Bhosale (IND,355) vs. (Q) Eri Shimizu (JPN,428)

[R1] (WC) Sahaja Yamlapalli (IND,342) vs. Dalila Jakupovic (SRB,242)

[R1] (Q) Vaidehi Chaudhari (IND,503) vs. Sapfo Sakellaridi (GRE,278)

[R1] (WC) Suhitha Maruri (IND,1239) vs. (2) Chloe Paquet (FRA,149)

Hope Ankita and Rutuja are able to beat lower ranked players and one of Sahaja/Vaidehi can beat their higher ranked opponents. That is probably the best we can hope for.

[arjun2761]

This is a good draw. The 4 Indians who had a chance to win have shot at advancing with two being higher ranked and two being lower ranked than their opponents. The two Indians who drew the top 2 seeds would likely have struggled with anyone in the draw, so they are mostly playing for experience.

[jayakris]

^^ Good summary! I was thinking just the same. Especially the wildcards facing the top 2 seeds. I would have hated to see the other Indians playing the two top-150 players.

[prasen9]

One cannot ask for everything but I would have wanted a switch of Vaidehi and Sahaja's opponents to make it a bit sahaja (but still hard) for Sahaja.

[Dinesh]

Vaidehi’s opponent - Sapfo played as many as 50 weeks of tennis in the ITF circuit last year. And she’s back on with that streak playing in her 3rd tournament already this year. She’s 20 years old: maybe she has the genetics for it - to be able to travel week in, week out and compete at a decent level. And money!

[prasen9]

I think it is crazy. Is ITF level tennis money making? Or do you spend more travelling, paying for your coaching team, etc. and really don't break even that much by playing more? I suppose the coaching contracts are fixed cost but you have to pay for your coaches' travel, right? Or does she have no coaching team? Seems like a prime injury or burnout candidate?

[Dinesh]

More on Sapfo: she probably has the weirdest serve of all time?!

Sapfo serve

[prasen9]

That is possibly less taxing on her shoulders making it possible for her to play more matches? But, even then, the sheer toll of playing 50 weeks out of 52 is crazy (along with the traveling, travel booking, etc.).

[arjun2761]

I think some players play for the love of the game and not for money. 2 of the top 5 American women (Jessica Pegula and Emma Navarro) are daughters of legit billionaires who could own the biggest tournaments if they wanted and Emma’s dad recently bought the Masters event in Cincinnati.

[prasen9]

Absolutely. There is no way you can travel and play 50 weeks out of 52 if you are not crazy about the game. 50 weeks, is that true? Does ITF/WTA have events in all but two weeks. I find that astounding - that someone plays that many in a year!

Pegula's dad has sponsored our ice hockey stadium and we have a brand new rink, etc. (well, possibly 5-7 years old now). Fantastic facility. Buffalo Bills connection too.

[jayakris]

Meanwhile, Sahaja could not do much today... Only 2 first round matches got done today, along with 6 doubles matches. All other Indians play singles tomorrow.

[R1] (WC) Sahaja Yamlapalli (IND,342) l. Dalila Jakupovic (SRB,242), 26 36

[Dinesh]

Ankita seems to be struggling with something. Down a set and 1-3 in the second. At this rate, I’d be surprised even one Indian player goes to the second round,