Ashvarya passes test of nerves

Pune girl marches into second round with win over Russias Julia

The 18-year-old Pune girl failed to cash in on a match point in the second set but re-worked her game plan in the deciding set to outmuscle the world number 769 Russian 7-6 (7-4), 6-7 (4-7), 6-3 in a three-and-a-half hour slugfest at the KSLTA courts.

While Ashvarya displayed remarkable guts and fitness to book her place in the pre-quarters, the same were found wanting in current national under-18 champion Sharmada Balu and Kyra Shroff, who crashed out in straight sets.

Opening the day’s proceedings against Dalila Jakupovic, Kyra hardly presented a challenge to the world number 431 Slovenian, slumping to a 6-1, 6-1 defeat in less than an hour. Sharmada, who enjoyed a superb run upto the semifinals in Mandya last week, tried hard against a confident Anna Shkudun but her inconsistent shot-making finally cost her a 3-6, 3-6 loss.

A product of the now-defunct Apollo Tyres Mission 2018, Ashvarya turned out to be the star of the day that was earlier rocked by the withdrawal of home hope and defending champion Poojashree Venkatesha due to a strained neck.

“It is the first time I  am playing at this level,” said a tired-looking Ashvarya after the match. “It was disappointing to squander a match point in the second set, the nerves got the better of me. However, I am happy to have lasted the distance and it’s really nice that work on my fitness is paying off.”

Mainly a base-liner with solid groundstrokes, Ashvarya relied more on tiring her opponent into committing mistakes. However, she too was made to sweat equally as Parasyuk, armed with a strong forehand, put back much of the shots that came her way. Noticing the threat, Ashvarya changed her angles in the decider, keeping Parasyuk on her weaker backhand for the better part that paid her rich dividends.

India’s Ankita Raina nearly nearly pulled off another surprise but ran out of ideas and steam, losing to Israel’s fourth seed Julia Glushko 6-1, 2-6, 2-6.

Poojashree said she suffered the neck strain while practising last evening. “I thought it would heal in time but sadly, it didn’t,” said the Mysorean, who will also miss the Dubai ITF event this month.

First round results (prefix number denotes seeding):

Singles: Anastasiya Vasylyeva (Ukr) bt Yi Chen (Tpe) 6-4, 7-5; Dalila Jakupovic (Slo) bt Kyra Shroff (Ind) 6-1, 6-1; Peangthan Pliphuech (Tha) bt Emily Webley-Smith (GBR) 6-0, (retd hurt); 3-Kumiko Iijima (Jpn) Nungnadda Wannasuk (Tha) 5-7, 7-5, 6-2; Rushmi Chakravathi (Ind) bt Marie Inoue (Jpn) 6-2, 6-2; Ashvarya Shrivastava (Ind) bt Julia Parasyuk (Rus) 7-6 (7-4), 6-7 (7-4), 6-3; Anna Shkdun (Ukr) bt Sharmada Balu (Ind) 6-3, 6-3; 4-Julia Glushko (Isr) bt Ankita Raina (Ind) bt 1-6, 6-2, 6-2; Anna Rapoport (Rus) bt Sabina Sharipova (Uzb) 4-6, 7-5, 6-4.
Doubles: 3-Luksika Kumkhum/ Nungnadda Wannasuk (Tha) bt 3-Sakiko Shimizu (Jpn)/ Varatchaya Wongteanchai (Tha) 6-4, 3-6, 10-5; Dalila Jakupovic/ Tadeja Majeric (Slo) bt Parija Maloo (Ind)/ Elodie Rogge-Dietrich (Fra) 6-1, 6-0; Dariya Berezzhnaya (Kaz)/ Volha Kalodzitsa (Blr) bt Prathana Prathap/ Arantxa Andrady (Ind) 6-1, 6-0.