L&T Mumbai Open WTA 125K series: Pranjala, partner in doubles 2nd round

Mumbai: Rutuja Bhosale gave good account of herself but went down to higher ranked Deniz Khazaniuk in the L&T Mumbai Open WTA 125K series at Cricket Club of India tennis courts here on Tuesday.

The 21-year-old who made comeback to professional tennis this year after undergoing graduation in Business in Texas for four years, stretched her 271-ranked opponent before going down 4-6, 3-6 after over 75 minutes contest.
Meanwhile, Indian pair of Karman Kaur Thandi and Pranjala Yadlapalli advanced to second round after 6-3, 7-5 hard fought win after 82 minutes of play over Australian-Hungarian pair of Naiktha Bains and Fanny Stollar.

The duo after serving first earned a crucial break in the midst and held on to their serves to take first set. Karman and Hyderabad’s Pranjala were trailing 1-2 in second set after conceding a break but broke back twice to surge to 5-2 lead.

They were broken back twice to level 5-5 but held their nerves to wrap up the match with a break.

They are the only Indians left in fray along with Ankita Raina who will play Russian Veronika Kudermetova in singles first round on Wednesday.
Indian Olympian Prarthana Thombare made an exit, when she and her Japanese partner Hiroko Kuwata lost to Julia Glushko of Israel and Priscilla Hon of Australia 2-6, 3-6 in the doubles.

Participating in 125K series after getting a wild card was a huge stepping stone for the 577 ranked Rutuja and she showed she can belong here.

Despite a poor turnout she enthused few spectators with powerful forehands, backhand winners but her weak serves and unforced errors let her down on the day.