Qualifier Soha Sadiq knocks out top seed Riya Bhatia in ITF contest

Pune: Qualifier Soha Sadiq knocked out top seeded Riya Bhatia in the opening match of the main draw at $25k KPIT –MSLTA ITF WTT Cup tennis championships at the Deccan Gymkhana tennis courts on Tuesday

Pune: Qualifier Soha Sadiq knocked out top seeded Riya Bhatia in the opening match of the main draw at $25k KPIT –MSLTA ITF WTT Cup tennis championships at the Deccan Gymkhana tennis courts on Tuesday.

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The Bengaluru-based player fought back from the loss of the first set to oust India Fed Cupper and top seeded Riya 4-6,6-2 6-1 in a 2 hour 8 minute match.

Seventh seeded Zeel Desai, wildcard Vaidehi Chaudari, Mihika Yadav, Ramya Natarajan, Sowjanya Bavisetti alongside qualifiers Sravya Shivani Chilakalapudi, Nidhi Chilumula were the other players to make it to the round of 16.

In the first set, the scores were level at 4-4 when Riya managed to break her opponent’s serve in the ninth game and thereafter held her serve to win the set 6-4.

In the second game, Soha played brilliantly pinning Riya to the baseline and the latter could not handle the pressure and lost the set 6-2.

At one set apiece Riya lost the plot and could not come back into the match. Soha hit strokes on both flanks to clinch the third set and the match winning 6-1.

After the win, Soha said, “In the first set I was a little tense as Riya gave a good fight. I got into my rhythm in the second set and used my backhand advantage. The win has boosted my confidence. In the third set, I was ok from the beginning. My backhand was good and was able to finish the match nicely.” Soha is training at Centre for Sports Excellence Bangalore under Horhe Fernandes since last one and a half year.

In another well-contested match, seventh seeded Zeel Desai faced a tough fight against Farhat Aleen Qamar before winning 6-0, 2-6, 6-2 .

Results

Singles: First(main draw)Round: Womens:

q-Soha Sadiq (Ind) bt Riya Bhatia (Ind) [1]4-6, 6-2, 6-1;

q-Sravya Shivani Chilakalapudi (Ind) bt wc-Snehal Mane (Ind)6-2, 6-0;

Ramya Natarajan (Ind) bt Bhuvana Kalva (Ind)6-2, 7-5;

7-Zeel Desai (Ind) bt q-Farhat Aleen Qamar (Ind) 6-0, 2-6, 6-2;

Mihika Yadav (Ind) bt Akanksha Dileep Nitture (Ind)6-3, 6-1;

Sowjanya Bavisetti (Ind) bt Likhitha Kalava (Ind) 6-3, 6-1;

wc-Vaidehi Chaudhari (Ind) bt Ashmitha Easwaramurthi (Ind) 6-4, 6-0; q-Nidhi Chilumula (Ind) bt q-Shreya Tatavarthy (Ind) 6-3, 6-0;

Doubles: First round

Nidhi Chilumula (Ind) /Saumya Vig (Ind) bt Ramya Natarajan (Ind)/ Soha Sadiq (Ind) 7-6 (7), 6-1;

Humera Baharmus (Ind) /Shrivalli Rashmikaa Bhamidipaty (Ind) bt Sravya Shivani Chilakalapudi (Ind) / Sathwika Sama (Ind)6-2, 2-6, 10-7;

1-Rutuja Bhosale (Ind) / Emily Webley-Smith (Gbr) bt Rutuja Chaphalkar (Usa) / Hrudaya Shah (Ind) 6-2, 6-0.