Sanaa Bhambri extended by US-based Kelsey Sunderam

Pune, Nov 7 (UNI) Delhi's Sanaa Bhambri, was extended by the US-based qualifier Kelsey Sundaram in an action packed one hour 52 minutes battle that went the full distance in the NECC - ITF 10,000 dollars Women's Tennis, at the Deccan Gymkhana courts here today.

The way Sanaa started in the sixth edition of the National Egg Coordination Committee tournament, by breaking her opponent Kelsey's serves in the second and eight games to wrap up the first set, it looked as if she would make a short shrift of the green card holder from USA.

Saana committed several unforced errors, by dropping her serve in the opening game and loosing the fifth with three double faults to allow Kelsey to level up the score. She however, tightened up her hold on the decider to win the set and the match 6-2, 2-6, 6-4; Third seed and seasoned campaigner Rushmi Chakravarthi retired after the first set due to back strain, giving the junior national champions Rashmi Teltumde to move into the pre-quarter final round along with her senior Mumbai teammate and top seed Isha Lakhani of Mumbai, the latter making easy meat of Asha Nandkumar, to move into the pre-quarter final round.

The foreign challengers, Elizaveta Tochilovskaya of Russia and Sasirin Borwornchok of Thailand, made into the pre quarter final rounds, the former won over Pargul Goswami in straight sets and the latter stealing a march over a slightly higher ranked Indian girl Vishika Chhetri.

A mild ripple was caused by Janaki Gunavati, who got the better of Liza Pereira, ranked 338 higher than her with impressive straight sets 6-2, 6-1 victory to earn the spot opposite Archana Venkataraman in the pre quarters.

Following are the results of main draw opening round matches: (1) Isha Lakhani (Ind) bt Asha Nandkumar (Ind) 6-2, 6-2; Sanaa Bhambri (Ind) Kelsey Sundaram (USA) 6-2, 2-6, 6-4; (5) Meghana Vakaria (Ind) bt Madhura Ranganathan (Ind) 6-0, 6-0; Elizaveta Tochilovskaya (Rus) bt Parul Goswami 6-1, 6-3; (8) Tara Iyer (Ind) bt Krushmi Chheda (Ind) 6-4, 6-2 Rashmi Teltumde (Ind) bt (3) Rushmi Chakravarthi (Ind) 1-0 (retd); Janaki Gunaghanti (Ind) bt Liza Pereira (Ind) 6-2, 6-1; Sanirin Borwornchokchai bt Vishika Chetri 6-2, 6-0 ; Doubles: Ankita Bhambri-Rushmi Chhakravarthi (Ind) bt Vishika Chhetri-Asha Nandkumar (Ind) 6-1, 6-0; Rushmi Chheda-Sonal Phadke (Ind) bt Parul Goswami, Tara Iyer (Ind) 7-5, 1-6, 6-4; Sanna Bhambri, Meghana Vakharia (Ind) bt Prerna Mythri Appen Chirshanti Rajur (Ind)6-1, 6-1; Sasirin Borwonchokchai-Sasarin Borwonchokchai (Thai) bt Sarah Stallard (GBR)-Aarthi Venkatraman (Ind) 6-4, 7-6 (7-3); Geeta Manohar-Liza Pereira (Ind) bt Janaki Gunaganti-(Ind), Kelsey Sundaram (USA) 6-4, 6-4, Isha Lakhani, Palkina Ksenia (Ind) bt Sai Jayalakshmi, Archana Venkataraman (Ind) 6-4, 6-1, Amina Rakhm (Ind), Elizaveta Tochilovskaya (Rus) bt Parija Maloo- Poojashree Venkatesha 6-2, 6-2.

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