Rutuja knocks out India NO 1 Ankita in Round one

Rutuja knocks out India NO 1 Ankita in Round one

Pune: Patience and calmness was the key for Rutuja Bhosale if she wanted to get better of India No. 1 Ankita Raina and she managed to do it and defeated Ankita 6-3, 6-7(8-6), 6-2 to sails into round two of the $25,000 NECC ITF Women’s Tennis Championship at the Deccan Gymkhana court, here on Tuesday.

“Ankita managed to save seven match points, which was frustating. I generally do not bang down my racquet but it happened today, I guess it helped me to release the pressure,” said Rutuja.

Indian No. 1 and 275 ranked Ankita Raina opened up with a 2-0 lead in the first set before Rutuja broke her in the third game to make it 2-1.

From there onward, Rutuja started to play more freely and hit down to base line shots neatly. Ankita, who was mixing her shots neatly looked, hapless on many occasions as Rutuja took the first set 6-3.  

“Ankita is India No. 1 and to beat her gives me confidence that if I work hard, I can also become India No. 1 some day,” explained Rutuja, who had a 3-0 lead in the second set before she allowed Ankita to rally back and make it 3-all.  

Ankita was able to steal crucial points in long rallies with drop shots which she executed in tandem.

Forcing the set into tie-breaker, Raina looked a better player and took 3-1 lead, before Rutuja fought back to make it 3-all.

Rutuja had a chance to wrap up the game but season campaingner Ankita forced the set into decider with 8-6 victory in the tie-breaker.

“She (Ankita) played smart and forced me to commit errors. She saved five match points in the second set, which was frustating,” said Rutuja, who had lost to Ankita in the first round of the same tournament in year 2014.

Rutuja, who is recovering from a shoulder injury, looked tired on few occasions and even took medical time out in the third set.

“I was in pain and my coach Hemant sir (Bendrey) was not  allowing me to play this tournament. I somehow managed to convince him and he allowed me to play singles.”

After medical break, Rutuja controlled the game nicely and wrapped the set 6-2 to complete one of the most satisfying victories of her career.

“Ankita is a great player, she recently reached into the quarters of Mumbai WTA so getting better of her has boosted my confidence, which will help me in future.” explained Rutuja.   

Rutuja will face qualifier Juvan Kaja of Slovakia in the second round on Wednesday.

Results:
Round 1:
Gabriella Taylor (Gbr) bt Q-Ana Veselinovic (Mne) 6-7 (4-7), 6-3, 6-2; 1-Jia-Jing Lu (Chn) bt Q-Aliona Bolsova Zadoinov (Esp) 6-2, 7-5; Fatma Al Nabhani (Oma) b 6-Diana Marcinkevica (Lat) 6-4, 7-5; Valeriya Strakhova (Ukr) bt WC-Pranjala Yadlapalli (Ind) 6-4, 6-3; WC-Rutuja Bhosale (Ind) b 3-Ankita Raina (Ind) 6-3, 6-7(6), 6-2; 8-Mai Minokoshi (Jpn) b Dhruthi Tatachar Venugopal (Ind) 7-6(4), 6-4; Georgina Garcia-Perez (Esp) b Dea Herdzelas (Bih) 6-4, 3-6, 6-1; Olga Doroshina (Rus) b Q-Elena Bogdan (Rou) 6-4, 6-2; Amina Anshba (Rus) b Anna Morgina (Rus) 6-3, 6-1.
Doubles, Pre quarter final: 1-Georgina Garcia Perez (Esp) and Valeriya Strakhova (Ukr) bt Erin Routliffe (Can) and Karman Kaur Thandi (Ind) 7-5, 6-2; Albina Khabibulina and Anastasiya Vasylyeva (Ukr) bt WC-Snehal Mane (Ind) and Ho Ching Wu (Chn) 6-1, 6-2; 3-Samantha Murray (Gbr) and Ana Veselinovic (Mne) bt WC-Riya Bhatia (Ind) and Britt Geukens (Bel) 8-2, 6-3.

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