L&T Mumbai Open WTA Series

Indian girls Karman, Zeel impress before bowing out
Mumbai, November 20:
Young Indian girls Karman Kaur Thandi and Zeel Desai, both given wild cards, produced some creditable performances but crashed to straight sets defeat against superior opponents in first round matches of the L&T Mumbai Open WTA 125K Series, played at the CCI tennis courts, on Monday.
The 19-year-old Karman, who is now the top Indian, having moved up to 284 on the latest WTA rankings released on Monday, put up quite a fight against unseeded 26-year-old Dalila Jakupovic of Slovenia, the 242nd ranked, before losing 2-6, 6-4 in a little over an hour on Centre Court.
Earlier, 18-year-old Zeel, ranked 709 in the WTA ranking tried her best to match the 22-year-old Zhao, who has a ranking of 150 in the world before slumping to a 3-6, 1-6 defeat in an hour an seven minutes.
The lanky Karman struggled initially and tamely lost the opening set. But she managed to find her range of shots in the second and put up a strong fight. She did well to stay abreast her Slovenian opponent as the scores went level pegging till 4-all. In the next Dalila managed to get a crucial break in the ninth before serving out for the set.
Karman rued the missed opportunities for her loss. “I had my chances in the game, but I was lacking on my service in the match. I played better in the second set and had an advantage at 4-4, as I was 30-0 up, however my service game let me down.
Dalila was playing well as she used the drop shot to good effect. I was able to reach them, but I missed silly shots as well,” said Karman during the post match conference.
“It was a great experience, and that too at home. It has been a great opportunity for me and I’m looking forward to the doubles tomorrow,” Karman added.
The former junior ranked 18, Zeel, started impressively against Zhao and they kept trading breaks as the Indian girl managed to stay within distance at 3-4. But the Canadia held serve in the eight before getting a vital break in the ninth to win the first set 6-3. Zhao completely dominated the second set and went on to take the second set 6-1 and close out the match.
Zeel was not too disappointed and was quite pleased with her performance. "It was a very important match for me but she was more aggressive, which helped her," said Zeel. "I was happy with my first serve and won quite a few points on my serve," she added.
Meanwhile, eighth-seeded Russian Irina Khromacheva became the first casualty  going down in three grueling sets to unseeded Sabina Sharipova of Uzbekistan 2-6, 7-6(2), 7-6(3).
However, Irina’s compatriot Valentyna Ivakhnenko sailed to the second round defeating Czech Republic’s Marie Bouzkova 6-3, 6-3 in another first round match, played between unseeded players.
Results (1st round): 7-Carol Zhao (CAN) beat Zeel Desai (IND) 6-3, 6-1.
Dalila Jakupovic (SLO) beat Karman Kaur Thandi (IND) 6-2, 6-4.

Sabina Sharipova (UZB) beat 8-Irina Khromacheva (RUS) 2-6, 7-6(2), 7-6(3).

Valentyna Ivakhnenko (RUS) beat Marie Bouzkova (CZE) 6-3, 6-3.
Photo Caption :
 Zeel Desai in action against Carol Zhao from Canada. 

करमन,झीलची सुरुवातीला चमक पण,नंतर पराभूत 
 मुंबई, नोव्हेंबर 20 : युवा भारतीय खेळाडू करमन कौर थंडी आणि झील देसाई यांनी वाईल्ड कार्डच्या माध्यमातून एल अँड डी मुंबई ओपन डब्ल्युटीए 125 के सिरीज या सीसीआय कोर्ट्सवर सुरु असलेल्या स्पर्धेमध्ये सुरुवातीला चांग़ली कामगिरी केली पण, नंतर आपल्यापेक्षा चांगल्या प्रतिस्पर्ध्यांविरुद्ध त्यांना पराभवाचा सामना करावा लागला.
     भारताच्या दुस-या मानांकित 19 वर्षीय डब्ल्युटीए क्रमवारीत 312 क्रमवारी असलेल्या करमनला बिनमानांकित 26 वर्षीय स्लोव्हेनियाच्या डालिला जाकुपोविक (242 क्रमवारी) हिच्याकडून 2-6, 4-6 असे तासभरहून अधिक काळ चाललेल्या सामन्यात पराभूत व्हावे लागले.
      त्यापुर्वी, डब्ल्युटीएमध्ये 709 क्रमवारी असलेली 18 वर्षीय झीलने जागतिक क्रमवारीत 150 व्या स्थानी असलेल्या 22 वर्षीय झाओकडून 6-3, 6-1 असे एक तास सात मिनिटे चाललेल्या सामन्यामध्ये पराभूत व्हावे लागले.
      मला गेममध्ये अनेक संधी होत्या. पण, सामन्यामध्ये सर्व्हिस म्हणावी तशी होत नव्हती. मी दुस-या सेटमध्ये चांगली कामगिरी केली. सामना 4-4 असा बरोबरीत असताना मी 30-0 अशी आघाडीवर होती.डालिला ही माझ्यापेक्षा चांगली खेळत होती आणि तसेच मी काही चुकीचे फटके देखील खेळले असे सामना संपल्यानंतर आयोजित पत्रकार परिषदेनंतर करमन म्हणाली. घरच्या कोर्टवर खेळल्याने हा अनुभव चांगला होता. माझ्यासाठी ही चांगली संधी होती आणि माझे लक्ष उद्यापासून सुरु होणा-या दुहेरीच्या सामन्यांकडे आहे असे ती पुढे म्हणाली.
       दरम्यान, आठव्या मानांकित रशियाच्या इरीना खरोमाचेवाला उझबेकिस्तानच्या बिनमानांकित सबीना शारीपोवाकडून 2-6, 7-6(2), 7-6 (3) असे तीन सेटपर्यंत चाललेल्या सामन्यात पराभूत केले.रशियाच्या वॅलेंटायना इवाख्नेनकोने चेक प्रजासत्ताकच्या मारी बौझकोवाला 6-3, 6-3 असे पहिल्या फेरीत पराभूत व्हावे लागले.
- निकाल (पहिली फेरी) : 
7- कॅरोल झाओ (कॅनडा) वि.वि. झील देसाई (भारत) 6-3, 6-1 
- डालिला जाकुपोविक (स्लोव्हेनिया)वि.वि. करमन कौर थंडी (भारत) 6-2, 6-4 
- सबिना शारीपोवा (उझबेकिस्तान) वि.वि. 8- इरीना खरोमाचेवाला 2-6, 7-6(2), 7-6(3)
-वॅलेंटायना इवाख्नेनको (रशिया) वि.वि. मारी बौझकोवा (चेक प्रजासत्ताक) 6-3, 6-3


फोटो :


- भारताची झील देसाई कॅनडाच्या कॅरल झाओ विरुद्ध खेळताना
 

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