Shrivalli Bhamidipaty gave a bright start for India.
| Photo Credit: Kamesh Srinivasan
Lulu Sun won both her singles and doubles matches to clinch the tie for New Zealand against India in the Billie Jean King Cup on Tuesday.
| Photo Credit:
Kamesh Srinivasan
The Indian team went down fighting 1-2 in a thriller against New Zealand, as World No. 41 Lulu Sun pulled her weight in both singles and doubles for the Kiwis, in the Asia-Oceania Billie Jean King Cup women’s tennis championship at the Balewadi Stadium on Tuesday.
Vibrant atmosphere
Playing in a vibrant atmosphere, Ankita Raina and Prarthana Thombare saved three match points on Lulu’s serve before bowing out 3-6, 4-6 in the decisive doubles.
Ankita and Prarthana had led 4-2 in the second set before the Kiwis, both left-handers, regrouped their game to match the craft and intensity of the Indian pair.
Shrivalli had earlier given a rousing start for the host by winning the first singles 6-1, 6-1 against Aishi Das. Serving well and stroking with flair, Shrivalli was concentration personified in executing a fine opener for India.
Sahaja Yamalapalli fought hard in the second singles against the Wimbledon quarterfinalist, but Lulu raced ahead to put the Kiwis on par with a 6-3, 6-3 victory.
It was a tough start for Ankita and Prarthana in the doubles under the floodlights, before they made the competition come alive with some robust tennis and imaginative play.
The Kiwis were relieved to pull through, but India, under the guidance of captain Vishal Uppal, had given every hint of being well prepared for the challenges ahead.
India will next next play Thailand on Wednesday. Thailand blanked Hong Kong 3-0 and Korea got past Taiwan with a similar scoreline in the other matches of the day.
The results (league):
New Zealand bt India 2-1 (Aishi Das lost to Shrivalli Bhamidipaty 1-6, 1-6; Lulu Sun bt Sahaja Yamalapalli 6-3, 6-3; Lulu Sun & Monique Barry bt Ankita Raina & Prarthana Thombare 6-3, 6-4).
Korea bt Taiwan 3-0 (Sohyun Park bt Ya-Hsuan Lee 6-1, 6-3; Dayeon Back bt Joanna Garland 6-4, 2-6, 6-4, Kim Dabin & Eunhye Lee bt Fang-Hsien Wu & Y Tsen Cho 7-6(3), 3-6, [10-8]).
Thailand bt Hong Kong 3-0 (Lanlana Tararudee bt Ho Ching Wu 6-1, 6-4; Mananchaya Sawangkaew bt Hong Yi Cody Wong 3-6, 6-2, 6-1; Penagtarn Plipuech & Patcharin Cheapchandej bt HOng Yi Cody Wong & Man Ying Maggie Ng 6-3, 6-4).
Published – April 08, 2025 08:58 pm IST