Qualifier Rishika Sunkara and wild card entrant Prerna Bhambri secured contrasting but straight-set victories in their respective matches to advance to the second round of the QNET Open USD 50,000 ITF Women's Circuit at DLTA Tennis Complex here today.
Rishika, who ended up on the losing side the last couple of times, battled against Shweta Rana to win 6-2 6-0. She controlled the match from the start and Shweta made it easier for Rishika by losing her cool.
"Having lost the last two times to Shweta, I did not think this is going to be this easy," Rishika said. "We have been playing together for a long time now and know one other's game. It's all boils down to how one plays crucial points."
Rishika then went on to make the day a memorable one by going through to the doubles quarterfinals with Arantxa Andrady.
After struggling a little in the opening set against Sharon Sanchana Paul, who was lucky to be given a wild card entry, Prerna Bhambri stamped her presence and claimed a 6-4 6-2 victory. She will most likely face second-seeded Anastasiya Vasylyeva (Ukraine).
Russia's left-handed Margarita Lazareva beat Romanian Daiana Negreanu 7-5 6-3 in a high quality match that was notable for the energy levels on court.
Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Col Rajyavardhan Rathore, who inaugurated the Qnet Open in the presence of the India hockey captain Sardar Singh, exhorted the players to discover the fighter within themselves.
"Planes are meant to fly and ships are meant to sail. Athletes are meant to fight with one another and discover the fighters within," he said.
The results (Indians unless specified):
Singles (first round): Margarita Lazareva (Russia) b Daiana Negreanu (Romania) 7-5 6-3; Harmony Tan (France) b Peangtarn Plipuech (Thailand) 6-4 6-0; q Rishika Sunkara b q Shweta Rana 6-2 6-0; Lu Jia-Jing (China) b Chang Liu (China) 7-6 (3) 6-1; wc Prerena Bhambri b wc Sharon Sanchana Paul 6-4 6-2.
Doubles (first round): (1) Lertpitaksinchai Nicha/Peangtarn Plipuech (Thailand) b wc Ushna Suhail (Pakistan)/Vaniya Dangwal (India) 6-0 6-0; Prathana Thombare/Emily Webley-Smith (Britain) b wc Himani Mor/Vanshika Sawhney 6-2 6-0; (4) Liu Chang/Lu Jia-Jing (China) b Bhuvana Kalva/Natasha Palha 7-6 (5) 2-6 (10-8); Kamonwam Buayam (Thailand)/Sabina Sharipova (Uzbekistan) b Ivana Jorovic (Serbia)/Sofiya Kovalets (Ukraine) 6-3 1-6 (10-5); Hsu Ching-Wen (Chinese Taipei)/Wang Xi-Yao (china) b Daiana Negreanu (Romania)/Prerna Bhambri 6-1 7-6 (6); (3)Margarita Lazareva (Russia)/Anastasiya Vasylyeva (Ukraine) b wc Riya Bhatia/Sharon Sanchana Paul 6-2 6-0; Arantxa Andrady/Rishika Sunkara b Wu Ho Ching (Hong Kong)/Sai Samhitha Chamarthi 7-6(4) 6-3; (2) Marina Melnikova (Russia)/Elise Mertens (Belgium) b Fama al-Nabhani (Oman)/Ankita Raina 6-2 6-7 (5) (10-3).
