Prarthana to meet Sowjanya for singles ITF title

Second seed Prarthana Thombare will clash with unseeded Sowjanya Bavisetti in the singles finals of the USD 10,000 Endurance MSLTA ITF women's tennis championship here tomorrow.
In today's semi-finals, the 400th-ranked Prarthana stopped the winning run of No. 8 seed Nidhi Chilumula 7-6(4) 6-2 in 1 hour 20 minutes, while the left-handed Sowjanya stunned sixth seed and national champion Prerna Bhambri 6-4 6-0 in 1 hour 10 minutes.
Prarthana also lined herself up for a coveted double crown by winning the doubles event partnering Ankita Raina. The second seeds scored a 6-3 6-3 win over Shweta Rana and Rishika Sunkara in the final to get 18 WTA points and USD 637.

In the semifinal against Nidhi, Prarthana hit well on both flanks, but missed a sitter when all set to take a 5-3 lead to let Nidhi level scores at 4-4 in the first set.
Both players held serves till 6-6 leading to the tie-break in which Prarthana hit four winners to win the set.
In the second set, she dominated with her forehand to race to 5-1 lead and then closed out the set at 6-2 to make it to her second final in a USD 10,000 event.

In the second semi-final Sowjanya, who is having a splendid week, used her opponent's pace to register a resounding straight set win over Prerna.

Prerna led 3-1 in the first set, but Sowjanya levelled scores and then broke in the 9th game to win the set.
Prerna looked a little uncomfortable with her shoulder in the second set to lose it tamely and let the Hyderabadi youngster into her second final.