Sanaa, Rushmi join Iroda, Chuang in the Sunfeast mains

Kolkata, Sep 17 (UNI) Sanaa Bhambri continued her good run, entering the main draw of the Sunfeast Open along with compatriot Rushmi Chakravarthi winning handsomely in their final qualifying matches here today.

Uzbekistan's Iroda Tulyaganova and Chinese Taipei's Chuang Chia-Jung joined the two Indians to complete the tally.

Indian Sanaa Bhambri became the first player to qualify for the main draw after conquering Sabine Lisicki, who is ranked 196 places above her at 495.

Sanaa looked in prime touch today getting the better of Sabine 7-6(7-4), 7-5. After a tough first setter that she won via tie-break 7-4, in the second she never looked like giving up.

While a smart down the line return was enough to clinch the tie-break, in the second set it was a constant trading of breaks from both the players. Eventually Sanaa held her serve in the eleventh and broke Sabine in the 12th to clinch the affair.

Sanaa had caused the first upset of the Sunfeast Open when she ousted the big serving Dutch Brenda Schultz-Mccarthy in a thrilling three setter in the qualifiers yesterday.

In another match today, a veteran on Indian circuit, Rushmi Chakravarthi registerd her entry into the main draw with a facile win over Tara Iyer 7-5, 6-4.

Talented and inconsistent as she has often been termed, Rushmi broke Tara with ease displaying a varied range of strokes from the baseline as she made it to the main draw in style.

In the third match of the day, Uzbekistan's Iroda Tulyaganova crushed Sandy Gumulya of Indonesia with a range of strokes that can be remembered and admired at. The results 6-1, 6-3 could have been bettered had not a couple of unforced errors forced gave the Indonesian a game in the second set. Agile, attacking and a fantastic weaponry of returns made Iroda look like she was on song, decimating her opponent in style.

The last tie saw Chuang Chia-Jung of Taipei defeating Sandhya Nagaraj of India 7-6(7-5), 6-4 to complete the main draw as the fourth qualifier.

UNI BA AY BS1735