ITF Women’s World Tennis: Rutuja Bhosale overcomes fever, Smriti Bhasin to enter pre-quarterfinals

BENGALURU: India’s Rutuja Bhosale, playing her first professional event after her Asian Games gold medal, struggled with her health before scraping past her younger opponent Smriti Bhasin to advance to the pre-quarterfinals of the ITF Women’s World Tennis Tour.

In a first-round match, the third seed emerged a 6-4, 7-5 winner over Smriti.

The other seeded players also advanced to the last 16 stage with top seed Nigina Abduraimova of Uzbekistan registering a 6-2, 6-3 victory over Ekaterina Yashina while second seed Lanlana Tararudee of Thailand breezed past host country’s Sharmada Balu 6-0, 6-1. Fifth seed Zhibek Kulambayeva faced a bit of resistance from Tanisha Kashyap before winning in straight sets 6-4, 6-3. Thailand’s Punnin Kovapitukted, seeded eighth, almost blanked Saumya Vig 6-0, 6-1. IN a notable result of the day, Pranjala Yadlapalli coming back into action after 20 months, showed that she hadn’t lost the touch while vanquishing Vanshita Pathania in straight sets 6-1, 6-0.

“There were times when I just blanked out during the match,” admitted Rutuja who almost collapsed soon after the match. “It is good to be back on the professional circuit. The Asian Games victory has definitely boosted my confidence and my approach,” said Rutuja. IANS

Also Read: Unseeded Laxmi Dandu upsets Diva Bhatia in ITF Junior Tennis Tournament at AATA complex

Also Watch: