Indian women kept themselves on course for a medal in the Asian Games by cruising into the semi-finals of the tennis team event by demolishing a spirited Thailand 2-1 in Doha on Tuesday.
The Indians eves, spearheaded by tennis icon Sania Mirza, made amends for their male counterparts' shocking exit from the team event on Monday by getting past their first hurdle.
Shikha Uberoi set the ball rolling for the Indians by prevailing over Suchanun Viratrasert with a 6-3, 6-4 verdict in a tussle which lasted close to 100 minutes.
Uberoi did have a momentary lapse of concentration in the second set but recovered in time to tilt the scale in her favour in the first singles.
Sania, ranked 67th in the world, then consolidated the position for her team by accounting for Tamarine Tanasugarn with a facile 6-3, 6-3 scoreline in a match which lasted 77 minutes.
The Hyderabad star displayed an aggressive brand of tennis and never gave much opportunities to her rival to come close to the net.
"The match was closer than the scores indicate. I am playing my best tennis at the moment. I was playing for my country, so I would be lying if I said I was not nervous, but as athletes you learn to deal with it".
{{/usCountry}}"The match was closer than the scores indicate. I am playing my best tennis at the moment. I was playing for my country, so I would be lying if I said I was not nervous, but as athletes you learn to deal with it".
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