MUMBAI OPEN | Shrivalli Bhamidipaty gets past second seed Nao Hibino

Rutuja Bhosale, during her victory over Peangtarn Plipuech in the Mumbai Open WTA tennis tournament on Tuesday, February 6, 2024.
| Photo Credit: Kamesh Srinivasan

Qualifier Shrivalli Bhamidipaty and wild card entrant Rutuja Bhosale joined Sahaja Yamalapalli in the pre-quarterfinals of the L&T Mumbai Open WTA tennis tournament at the CCI courts here on Tuesday.

Shrivalli bounced back from a slow start to beat the second seed Nao Hibino of Japan in the third set tie-break. She was able to step up her game and closed it out against the tough Japanese, ranked in the top-100.

With the confidence of having already negotiated two matches in the qualifying round, Shrivalli handled the ebb and flow of the match with equanimity, unleashing her strong strokes at every opportunity. At 6-4 in the tie-break, Shrivalli perhaps felt the nerves and delivered a double fault. The Japanese, however, hit long on the next point to tumble out.

Shrivalli will get the chance to gauge her game against the 16-year-old sensation Alina Korneeva, who has already won three titles in the women’s circuit.

Rutuja had earlier in the day overcome a sedate start and a crafty Peangtarn Plipuech by sticking to her game plan.

Ankita Raina played well but was unable to progress as she was up against the young and energetic eighth seed Katie Volynets of the USA.

There was more for the home fans, as Prarthana Thombare combined with Arianne Hartone of the Netherlands to beat the Thais, Luksika Kumkhum and Plipuech 10-6 in the super tie-break of the doubles pre-quarterfinals.

Kumkhum had won the singles at the same venue last time when the event was held in 2018.

Sahaja, who had beaten the top seed Kayla Day on Monday, will next play the champion of the last tournament in Indore, Polina Kudermetova.

The results: First round: Polina Kudermetova bt Anastasia Zakharova 7-6(8), 6-0; Amandine Hesse (Fra) bt Lina Glushko (Isr) 6-1, 6-1; Arina Rodionova (Aus) bt Suzan Lamens (Ned) 6-2, 7-5; Moyuka Uchijima (Jpn) bt Carole Monnet (Fra) 6-3, 6-3; Dalma Galfi (Hun) bt Kimberly Birrell (Aus) 6-2, 4-6, 7-5; Katie Volynets (USA) bt Ankita Raina 6-4, 6-2;Rutuja Bhosale bt Peangtarn Plipuech (Tha) 6-4, 7-5; Camilla Rosatello (Ita) bt Anastasia Tikhonova 7-5, 3-6, 6-2; Storm Hunter (Aus) bt Fanny Stollar 3-0 (retired); Shrivalli Bhamidipaty bt Nao Hibino (Jpn) 2-6, 6-1, 7-6(5).