Bhambri to clash with
Goutam in final
Giant-killer Ankita Bhambri saved three match-points to oust Sonal Phadke and set up a title
clash with fourth seed Sheetal Goutam in the $5,000 ITF women's tennis Masters in Pune on Thursday.
In the semi-finals, Bhambri scraped past Sonal Phadke 4-6, 7-6 (7-1), 6-4, while Goutam thrashed Medini Sharma 6-1, 6-0.
In the best match of the tournament so far, Phadke began
in style, breaking Bhambri in the second and fourth games to go
up 5-0. However, Bhambri came back strongly to break Phadke in
the 7th and 9th game and reduce the deficit. Phadke hit two
double fisted forehands to break Bhambri in the 10th and take
the first set 6-4.
In the second set, Bhambri broke Phadke in the third game
but could not hold serve in the fourth. Both players
traded breaks on their service, with Phadke losing her serve on
the 7th and the 9th games, while Bhambri lost her serve in
the 8th and 10th games.
The scores were level at 5-5, as Phadke held her serve
with an ace in the 11th game. She looked like wrapping up
the match as she led 40-0 in the 12th game, but Bhambri had other ideas. She played superbly,
hitting the lines on two occasions and forcing deuce. She
served spiritedly to hold her serve and force the tie-break, which she won 7-1.
In the decider, both the players held serve till 3-3. Bhambri broke a tired Phadke in the sixth and eighth games but lost her serve in the ninth game. In the tenth game, she hit two forehand winners to break Phadke at love and clinch the match in two hours and 26 minutes and ensure a place in her first final.
The other semi-final was a tame affair as fourth seed Sheetal Goutam was too strong for Medini Sharma.
Top seeded duo of Sai Jayalakshami and Radhika Tulpule came from behind to get the better of the second-seeded pair of Samrita Sekar and Archana Venkatraman 5-7, 6-1, 6-4 and claim the women's doubles title after battling it out for over 90 minutes in the oppressive afternoon heat.
Earlier reports
Bhambri shocks top seed Jayalakshmi
Vandana Murali, Medini Sharma score upsets
