Ankita advances arduously

By Kamesh Srinivasan

NEW DELHI, JUNE 25. Ankita Bhambri sweated it out for three hours and four minutes before putting it across S.K. Tara 4-6, 7-6 (7- 5), 6-3 in the first round of the $ 5000 ITF women's circuit Masters tennis event at the DLTA Complex here on Monday.

The 14-year-old could have finished the match a lot earlier, but for her inability to capitalise on the leads that she worked up with her brisk strokes. Of course, credit should be given to Tara, who had been hampered by a back trouble last week, in stretching Ankita to her wit's end.

Ankita had a lead of 3-1 in the first set, but was unable to build on that even as Tara played her strokes with the usual flourish. In the second set also, Ankita took a 4-1 lead and was up 5-2 before letting the issue meander into the tie- break. Into the tie-break, Ankita ran up a 5-1 lead but gave a few anxious moments to her family members before stretching the contest into the decider.

In the third set, Ankita pulled ahead with a break in the sixth game, as Tara could not fight on, especially after suffering cramps in that sixth game, that resulted in a long medical break. Ankita was her energetic self till the end in earning herself a repeat clash against the top-seeded Sonal Phadke.

Sonal was stretched to some extent by Nandita Chandrasekar in an entertaining contest. It was Sonal's experience and confidence that helped her pull through, particularly after she found herself in a spot of bother at 4-5 in the second set.

The 19-year-old broke Nandita decisively in the sixth game of the first set, after four exchange of breaks. She saved two breakpoints to hold serve in the seventh and took the first set in 28 minutes.

In the second set, Sonal was up 4-2 after three exchange of breaks, but got broken at love in the eighth game, as Nandita smacked winners one after the other. Nandita also consolidated her position by holding serve in the ninth game. Sonal was ready for the challenge and took the tenth game comfortably. She took a stranglehold of the end game, as Nandita revealed signs of nerves with a doublefault that saw her face three breakpoints.

Sonal was at her fluent best in the 12th game, when she saved two breakpoints with backhand winners, and wound up the match in an hour and 12 minutes, as Nandita put a backhand return into the net.

It was a quality performance by Sonal, despite the brief spells of erratic play. On the fast courts, she enjoyed going for her shots, and was actually tuning herself for the challenges ahead, keeping her head down, after the high of winning her second title on Saturday. It was back to the basics, and it was this aspect that helped her overwhelm Nandita in the climax.

Samrita Sekar enjoyed an easy outing against Vishika Chhetri, but will have her hands full when she takes on the tenacious Isha Lakhani in the quarterfinals on Wednesday.

Isha continued to assert her class and fighting spirit with a 6- 1, 6-2 triumph over Liza Pereira in 52 minutes. She had beaten Liza in the first leg, and showed her mastery yet again. Another talented left-hander, Megha Vakharia was equally fluent in her straight-set triumph over Marutha Devi.

In the match between the foreigners, Laila Shetty of the US recovered from being down 3-6, 0-3 in recording a 3-6, 6- 3, 6-2 triumph over Annie Trepanier of Canada.

Yamini Thukkaiandi had another good start against the second- seeded Archana Venkataraman, winning the first set, but seemed to lose her way thereafter. Archana was leading 3-6, 6-2, 3-1 when rain stopped play. Sheetal Goutham was up 6-1, 2-2 in her match against Arthi Venkataraman when play was abandoned for the day.

The results (first round): Sonal Phadke bt Nandita Chandrasekhar 6-3, 7-5; Ankita Bhambri bt S.K. Tara 4-6, 7-6 (7- 5), 6-3; Laila Shetty (US) bt Annie Trepanier (Can) 3-6, 6-3, 6- 2; Isha Lakhani bt Liza Pereira 6-1, 6-2; Samrita Sekar bt Vishika Chhetri 6-1, 6-1; Megha Vakharia bt Marutha Devi 6-4, 6- 4.

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