<p>The top seed cruised through her semifinal encounter to set up a final date with Dalila Jakupovic in the $10,000 QuestNet ITF women’s tennis tournament here on Friday.<br /><br />Poojashree, yet to be tested on her home patch after her two previous opponents retired, strolled into the title round with a 6-4, 6-2 win over fourth-seeded Israeli Keren Shlomo at the KSLTA courts. <br /><br />“This was my first match of the tournament against a good player, so I was nervous initially. After two games, I got my rhythm back,” said Poojashree after the one-hour, 15-minute match.<br /><br />The Bangalorean will meet seventh-seeded Jakupovic in Saturday’s summit clash after the Slovenian brushed aside Sanaa Bhambri, the fifth seed, 6-3, 6-4 in the second semifinal.<br /><br />On a hot, sunny day, Poojashree, winner at the ITF tourney in Delhi last month, showed big-match nerves as she dropped her very first serve after sending down a double-fault, followed by a wayward forehand. The lanky Indian, however, soon regained composure, breaking Shlomo in the fourth game when the powerful Israeli hit three consecutive forehands long. <br /><br />Understandably, with her nerves settling down quickly, Poojashree took the fifth game with an ace before breaking Shlomo with a full-blooded forehand winner.<br /><br />At 4-2, complacency crept into Poojashree, allowing Shlomo to get back into the encounter as the Indian dropped the seventh game through unforced errors. The 19-year-old Poojashree wrested the initiative back in the very next game but again put herself in trouble. Shlomo got the measure of Poojashree with a double-handed whip that left the top seed stranded for a break of serve.<br /><br />Poojashree rounded off the first set with a topspin forehand cross court passing shot.<br /><br />The 21-year-old Shlomo was again on the back foot in the second set as she double-faulted to give her opponent a 2-0 lead. Shlomo showed signs of revival by drawing level at 2-2 but Poojashree then raised her game to the next level, pulling off one winner after another.<br /><br />Shlomo struggled to find an answer to the powerful ground strokes from the world number 416. A backhand winner off Shlomo’s serve drew the curtains as Poojashree raised her arms in celebration.<br /><br />Later, Jakupovic continued to impress with her elegance and athleticism. <br /><br />The 18-year-old bombarded Sanaa with backhand and forehand winners from all parts of the court to shock the 21-year-old Mumbaikar and enter the final. “She (Poojashree) is a good friend of mine. <br /><br />“But I will put up my best effort to win the title,” said Jakupovic, whose best ITF showing was a semifinal appearance in Delhi last month.<br /><br />Poojashree stayed on course for a double when she teamed up with Isha Lakhani to beat Kumari Sweta Solanki and Moe Kawatoko of Japan 6-4, 6-3 in the doubles final.<br /><br />Results (Indians unless mentioned, prefix number denotes seeding):<br />Singles (semifinals): 1-Poojashree Venkatesha bt 4-Keren Shlomo (Isr) 6-4, 6-2; 7-Dalila Jakupovic (Slo) bt Sanaa Bhambri 6-3, 6-4.<br />Doubles (final): Poojashree Venkatesha/ Isha Lakhani bt Kumari Sweta Solanki/ Moe Kawatoko (Jpn) 6-4, 6-3.</p>
<p>The top seed cruised through her semifinal encounter to set up a final date with Dalila Jakupovic in the $10,000 QuestNet ITF women’s tennis tournament here on Friday.<br /><br />Poojashree, yet to be tested on her home patch after her two previous opponents retired, strolled into the title round with a 6-4, 6-2 win over fourth-seeded Israeli Keren Shlomo at the KSLTA courts. <br /><br />“This was my first match of the tournament against a good player, so I was nervous initially. After two games, I got my rhythm back,” said Poojashree after the one-hour, 15-minute match.<br /><br />The Bangalorean will meet seventh-seeded Jakupovic in Saturday’s summit clash after the Slovenian brushed aside Sanaa Bhambri, the fifth seed, 6-3, 6-4 in the second semifinal.<br /><br />On a hot, sunny day, Poojashree, winner at the ITF tourney in Delhi last month, showed big-match nerves as she dropped her very first serve after sending down a double-fault, followed by a wayward forehand. The lanky Indian, however, soon regained composure, breaking Shlomo in the fourth game when the powerful Israeli hit three consecutive forehands long. <br /><br />Understandably, with her nerves settling down quickly, Poojashree took the fifth game with an ace before breaking Shlomo with a full-blooded forehand winner.<br /><br />At 4-2, complacency crept into Poojashree, allowing Shlomo to get back into the encounter as the Indian dropped the seventh game through unforced errors. The 19-year-old Poojashree wrested the initiative back in the very next game but again put herself in trouble. Shlomo got the measure of Poojashree with a double-handed whip that left the top seed stranded for a break of serve.<br /><br />Poojashree rounded off the first set with a topspin forehand cross court passing shot.<br /><br />The 21-year-old Shlomo was again on the back foot in the second set as she double-faulted to give her opponent a 2-0 lead. Shlomo showed signs of revival by drawing level at 2-2 but Poojashree then raised her game to the next level, pulling off one winner after another.<br /><br />Shlomo struggled to find an answer to the powerful ground strokes from the world number 416. A backhand winner off Shlomo’s serve drew the curtains as Poojashree raised her arms in celebration.<br /><br />Later, Jakupovic continued to impress with her elegance and athleticism. <br /><br />The 18-year-old bombarded Sanaa with backhand and forehand winners from all parts of the court to shock the 21-year-old Mumbaikar and enter the final. “She (Poojashree) is a good friend of mine. <br /><br />“But I will put up my best effort to win the title,” said Jakupovic, whose best ITF showing was a semifinal appearance in Delhi last month.<br /><br />Poojashree stayed on course for a double when she teamed up with Isha Lakhani to beat Kumari Sweta Solanki and Moe Kawatoko of Japan 6-4, 6-3 in the doubles final.<br /><br />Results (Indians unless mentioned, prefix number denotes seeding):<br />Singles (semifinals): 1-Poojashree Venkatesha bt 4-Keren Shlomo (Isr) 6-4, 6-2; 7-Dalila Jakupovic (Slo) bt Sanaa Bhambri 6-3, 6-4.<br />Doubles (final): Poojashree Venkatesha/ Isha Lakhani bt Kumari Sweta Solanki/ Moe Kawatoko (Jpn) 6-4, 6-3.</p>