Zeel, Rashmikaa, Vaishnavi score upset wins enroute to quarters at ITF Bowring Institute ITF Women’s World Tennis Tour

Bengaluru, Nov 23: Zeel Desai registered the biggest upset victory of her career when she ousted the top seed Nigina Abduraimova of Uzbekistan on a cheerful day for the Indian contingent where two more of her countrymates – Shrivalli Rashmikaa Bhamidipaty and Vaishnavi Adkar, also registered contrasting victories against their fancied opponents as four seeds bit the dust in the pre-quarterfinals of the ITF Bowring Institute ITF Women’s World Tennis Tour, here on Thursday.

A confident Zeel who admitted that she was excited to play the top seed even before the match, won in straight sets 6-4, 6-4 against the Uzbek while Rahsmikaa toppled her best friend and doubles partner, fourth seeded Vaidehi Chaudhary after dropping the first set 4-6, 7-5, 7-5 in a match that lasted 2 hours and 58 minutes. Vaishnavi outplayed eight seed Punnin Kovapitukted of Thailand 6-3, 7-6 (1) to advance to the quarterfinals while sixth seeded Jenny Duerst of Switzerland suffered a straight-set loss at the hands of German Antonia Schmidt 3-6, 4-6.

The players matched stroke for stroke as the games went with the serves for the first nine games, highlighted by shorter rallies yet classy shots from both the players. After a keenly fought 10th game, the 24-year-old Zeel broke Nigina’s serve to win the first set 6-4. However, her fancied rival broke Zeel’s serve in the fifth game and held her serve in the next to lead 4-2 in the second set. Stung by the reverse, the ever-smiling pro regained her composure and won the next four games on the trot with breaks in the eighth and 10 game to seal a spot in the last eight.

Rashmikaa and Vaidehi had met in the final of the Fenesta National with the former emerging as the winner. The latter had avenged the defeat during the finals of the recently concluded National Games. The duo who opened the day’s proceedings displayed some fine tennis with Rashmikaa’s forehand and Vaidehi’s deft cross court shots being the highlight. After the first six games went with the serve, Vaidehi who is two years older than the 21-year-old Rashmikaa broke her opponent’s serve in the seventh game and took the first set 6-4.

Continuing in the same vein, Vaidehi achieved a break in the very first game while Rashmikaa returned the favour in the sixth to restore parity and finally achieving one more break in the 12th to take the match into the third set. The final set saw a see-saw battle with both players breaking each other twice before Rashmikaa wound up the match breaking the 4th seed’s serve in the 12th.

Results (All Indians unless mentioned; pre-fix denotes seeding)

Women’s singles (Round of 32)

Shrivalli Rashmikaa Bhamidipaty bt 4-Vaidehi Chaudhari 4-6, 7-5, 7-5; 3-Rutuja Bhosale bt Pranjala Yadlapalli 6-4, 6-3; 2-Lanlana Tararudee (THA) bt Suhitha Maruru 6-1, 6-1; Antonia Schmidt (GER) bt 6-Jenny Duerst (SUI) 6-3, 6-4; Vaishnavi Adkar bt 8-Punnin Kovapitukted (THA) 6-3, 7-6 (1); Zeel Desai bt 1-Nigina Abduraimova (UZB) 6-4, 6-4; 5- Zhibek Kulambayeva (KAZ) bt Q-Pooja Ingale 6-1 6-3; 5-Diletta Cherubini bt Anna Ureke 7-6 (2), 6-7 (7), 6-4.

Doubles (Quarterfinals)

1-Rutuja Bhosale/Zhibek Kulambayeva (KAZ) bt Pooja Ingale/Sandeepti Singh Rao 6-2, 6-0; 3-Shrivalli Rashmikaa Bhamidipaty/Vaidehi Chaudhari bt WC-Kashish Bhatia/Vanshita Pathania 6-0, 6-3; 2-Jenny Duerst (SUI)/Ekaterina Yashina Vs. Diletta Cherubini (ITA)/Antonia Schmidt (GER) (stopped due to rain and bad light); 4-Punnin Kovapitukted (THA)/Anna Ureke Vs. Sai Samhitha Chamarthi/Soha Sadiq (stopped due to rain and bad light)