Top seed Bhatia knocked out of $ 25000 KPIT –MSLTA ITF WTT Cup tennis championships

Pune, 9th March 2021: Qualifier Soha Sadiq knocked out Top-seeded Riya Bhatia in the opening match of the main draw at $ 25000 KPIT –MSLTA ITF WTT Cup tennis championships organized by MSLTA in association with Deccan Gymkhana and played on the Deccan Gymkhana tennis courts

Banglore based Sadiq came back from a loss of the first set to oust India Fed Cupper and top-seeded Riya Bhatia 4-6,6-2 6-1 in a 2hrs 8 minute match.

Seventh-seeded Zeel Desai, wildcard Vaidehi Chaudhari, Mihika Yadav Ramya Natarajan, Sowjanya Bavisetti alongside Qualifiers Sravya Shivani Chilakalapudi, Nidhi Chilumula were the other players to make it to the round of 16

In the First set The scores were level at 4-4 Riya managed to break her opponent serve in the ninth game and thereafter held her serve to win the set 6-4.

In the second game Soha Played brilliantly pinning Riya to the baseline, Riya could not handle the pressure and was broken twice and lost the set 6-2.

At 1 set apiece Riya lost the plot and could not come back into the match, Soha took over stroking brilliantly on both flanks to clinch the third set momentum and the match Winning 6-1

After win Soha said, “ In the first set, I was a little bit tense and tight Riya also gave a very good fight. But I got into my rhythm in the second set. Also, I found my main weapon which is my forehand. So my confidence got a booster.

In the third set, I was ok from the beginning. My forehand was perfect. I was able to finish the match nicely. I was a bit tense in the beginning. But as my confidence grew, it was not a difficult win there on said Soha who has been training at CSE Banglore under Horhe Fernandes for last one and half year.”

In another well-contested match, seventh-seeded Zeel Desai was given a fight by quaki Farhat Aleen Qamar before winning 6-0, 2-6, 6-2.

Following are the results: Singles: First(Main Draw)Round: Women’s:

(Q)Soha Sadiq (Ind) bt Riya Bhatia (Ind) [1]4-6, 6-2, 6-1;

(Q)Sravya Shivani Chilakalapudi (Ind) bt (Wc)Snehal Mane (Ind)6-2, 6-0;

Ramya Natarajan (Ind) bt Bhuvana Kalva (Ind)6-2, 7-5;

Zeel Desai (Ind) [7] bt (Q)Farhat Aleen Qamar (Ind)6-0, 2-6, 6-2;

Mihika Yadav (Ind) bt Akanksha Dileep Nitture (Ind)6-3, 6-1;

Sowjanya Bavisetti (Ind) bt Likhitha Kalava (Ind)6-3, 6-1;

(Wc)Vaidehi Chaudhari (Ind) bt Ashmitha Easwaramurthi (Ind) 6-4, 6-0;

(Q)Nidhi Chilumula (Ind) bt (Q)Shreya Tatavarthy (Ind)6-3, 6-0;

Doubles: First Round:

Nidhi Chilumula (Ind) /Saumya Vig (Ind) bt Ramya Natarajan (Ind)/ Soha Sadiq (Ind) 7-6(7), 6-1;

Humera Baharmus (Ind) /Shrivalli Rashmikaa Bhamidipaty (Ind) bt Sravya Shivani Chilakalapudi (Ind) / Sathwika Sama (Ind)6-2, 2-6, 10-7;

Rutuja Bhosale (Ind) / Emily Webley-Smith (Gbr) [1] bt Rutuja Chaphalkar (USA) / Hrudaya Shah (Ind) 6-2, 6-0.