KPB Trust Women’s Open | Winning starts for Ankita and Sahaja

Ankita Raina and Sahaja Yamalapalli secure victories in the first round of the $100,000 KPB Trust Women’s Open.

Indians Ankita Raina and Sahaja Yamalapalli recorded victories in the first round of the $100,000 KPB Trust Women’s Open tennis tournament at the KSLTA courts here on Wednesday. 

Ankita, the highest-ranked Indian, defeated Russian qualifier Daria Kudashova 7-6(2), 7-6(4). Ankita did well to overcome a bout of nausea in the second set. The 32-year-old at times resorted to moon balls to give herself enough time to recover for the next shot. Kudashova erred by settling for long rallies, instead of taking an attacking approach to close out points. 

Ankita will have to raise her game a few notches in the next round, when she takes on top seed Tatjana Maria.

Sahaja was impressive in a 6-3, 3-6, 6-0 win over Great Britain’s Yuriko Miyazaki. Sahaja (world No. 315) used a powerful serve and crisp groundstrokes to shut out Miyazaki (world No. 182). 

It was a disappointing outing for Vaidehi Chaudhari and Shrivalli Bhamidipaty. Vaidehi fell to defending champion Darja Semenistaja 2-6, 2-6, while Shrivalli was blown away 0-6, 0-6 by eighth-seed Sara Bejlek. 

Brenda Fruhvirtova, who clinched the title here in 2023, was forced to retire against Maria Timofeeva. Brenda was down 3-4 in the first set when she threw in the towel due to an injury. 

Brenda’s sister Linda had a better time of it, going past Brazil’s Laura Pigossi 6-2, 7-6(5).