Ranganathan knocks out Wannasuk to move into next round

Pune, Nov 14 (UNI) Talented junior Madhura Ranghanathan pulled off a major victory when she beat winner of last week's 10,000 dollar event, Nungnadda Wanasuk of Thailand while second seeded Montinee Thangpong survived a scare to move into the second round of the Cyrus Poonawalla Group Sponsored 25,000 dollar Poona Club Women's International tennis tournament at the club's clay courts.

In the first round of the event, Ranghanathan rallied out Wannasuk 6-2, 6-3 in a hour-long tussle while second seeded Montinee Thanpong, ranked 300 in the world, had to pull out all her experience and energy reserves to scrape past Wildcard entrant Krushmi Chheda of Mumbai 5-7, 6-1, 6-4 in a one hour 43 minute battle.

Third seeded Agnes Szatmari of Romania, sixth seeded Isha Lakhani of India and eighth seeded Amina Rakhim of Kazakistan along with Nicole Clerico of Italy, Ksenia Palkina of Kyrgzstan moved into the second round without much effort.

In one of the closest matches of the day, qualifier Ashmita Easwara Murthi of Chennai did everything right but lost her match against Meggha Vakharia. In the longest match of the day, lasting nearly 2 hours, Vakaria just about manged to win 5-7, 6-1, 6-4.

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