JOIN USRiya stuns Sharmadaa
Unseeded Riya Bhatia of India scripted another upset, ousting compatriot and sixth seed Sharmadaa Baluu in a tough three-setter to move into the semifinals of the KUDA Kalaburagi ITF $10,000 Women’s Tennis tournament here on Thursday.
Riya, who accounted for fourth seed Dhruthi Tatachar Venugopal on Wednesday, defeated Sharmadaa 6-3, 5-7, 6-3. In the semifinals on Thursday, Riya will face Eetee Maheta, who sent second seed Natasha Palha packing, with a 5-7, 6-4, 7-6 (3) win, in their quarterfinal clash.
Top seed Prerna Bhambri produced a come-from-behind 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 victory over Kanika Vaidya to set up a semifinal showdown with Thailand’s Tamachan Momkoonthod.
Thamachan got past India’s Snehadevi Reddy 6-4, 7-6 (6).
Riya began the contest in convincing fashion, winning the first set 6-3. However, Sharmadaa rose to the occasion and bagged the second set 7-5. But the Bengaluru girl could not handle the pace and angles of Riya and succumbed 3-6 in the third set to bow out of the tournament.
Results: (Prefix denotes seeding, Indians unless mentioned): Singles: Quarterfinals: Riya Bhatia bt 6-Sharmadaa Baluu 6-3, 5-7, 6-3; 8-Eetee Maheta bt 2-Natasha Palha 5-7, 6-4, 7-6 (3); 1-Prerna Bhambri bt Kanika Vaidya 4-6, 6-4, 6-2; Tamachan Momkoonthod (Tha) bt 3-Snehadevi S Reddy 6-4, 7-6 (6).
Doubles: Semifinals: 4-Druthi Tatachar Venugopal/Karman Kaur Thandi bt 1-Shamadaa Baluu/Natasha Palha 7-5, 6-3; 3-Prerna Bhambri/Kanika Vaidya bt 2-Shweta Rana/ Snehadevi Reddy 6-2, 1-6, 13-11.