JOIN USUnseeded Riya Bhatia ousted fourth seed Dhruthi Tatachar Venugopal in straights sets to storm into the quarterfinals of the KUDA Kalaburagi ITF $10,000 Women’s tennis tournament here at the Chandrashekar Patil Stadium on Wednesday.
The 18-year-old registered a thumping 6-4, 6-2 verdict against Dhruthi, who committed too many unforced errors to bow out of the tournament.
In another upset, unseeded Kanika Vaidya rallied brilliantly to shock fifth seed Prarthana Thombare in two hours and 24 minutes. The Singapore-based Kanika prevailed 3-6, 7-6 (2), 6-4 to set up a last eight clash against top seed Prerna Bhambri, who drubbed Dakshata Girishkumar Patel 6-0, 6-2.
It was also curtains for Karman Kaur Thandi, who was sent packing by Karnataka’s Sharmadaa Baluu 6-3, 7-6 (5).
Results (Prefix denotes seeding, Indians unless mentioned): Singles: Pre-quarterfinals: 1-Prerna Bhambri bt Dakshata Girishkumar Patel 6-0, 6-2; Tamachan Momkoonthod (Tha) bt Sai Samhitha Chamarthi 6-3, 6-3; 2-Natasha Palha bt Plobrung (Tha) 6-2, 6-1; 3-Snehadevi Reddy bt Soha Sadiq 6-2, 6-1; Riya Bhatia bt 4-Dhruthi Tatachar Venugopal 6-4, 6-2; 6-Sharmadaa Baluu bt Karman Kaur Thandi 6-3, 7-6 (5); Kanika Vaidya bt 5-Prarthana Thombare 3-6, 7-6 (2), 6-4; 8-Eetee Maheta bt Chun-Yan He (Chn) 6-0, 6-4.
Doubles: Quarterfinals: 4-Druthi Tatachar/ Karman Kaur bt Tamachan Momkoonthod/ Plobrung Plipuech (Tha) 7-5, 7-5; 1-Sharmadaa Baluu/ Natasha Palha bt Soha Sadiq/ Sahan Shetty 6-3, 6-0; 2-Shweta Rana/ Snehadevi Reddy 6-0, 6-0; 3-Prerna Bhambri/ Kanika Vaidya bt Sai Samhitha/ Riya Bhatia 6-4, 6-2.