Pune: The Indian team opened their account by securing 2-1 win over Thailand in the Billie Jean King Cup Asia-Oceania Group 1 tie organized by the MSLTA in association with ITF, AITA, and PMDTA at the Mahalunge Balewadi Tennis Complex here.
Shrivalli Bhamidipaty set the tone for India with a fighting win, before the experienced pair of Ankita Raina and Prarthana Thombare helped the hosts to get off the mark.
Shrivalli Bhamidipaty picked up where she left off on day one, delivering another commanding performance against Thailand’s Lanlana Tararudee. Playing only her second game in the Indian colours, she brushed aside her opponent in an hour and 15 minutes, displaying an array of strokes to win 6-2, 6-4, giving India a 1-0 lead in the tie against Thailand.
The second game of the day saw Sahaja Yamalapalli take on Mananchaya Sawangkaew, in what proved to be a nail-biting contest. The two players went toe-to-toe, putting some exceptional tennis on display. Mananchaya sealed a comeback win to take the first set 6-3, before Sahaja showed immense grit and determination, fighting back to take the second set 7-6 [7-3]. While trailing 0-1 in the final set, the young Indian star, unfortunately, had to retire hurt, closing the curtains on a thrilling encounter after 2 hours and 23 minutes, which levelled the tie between the two countries at 1-1.
With all to play for in the doubles game, the seasoned Indian duo of Ankita Raina and Prarthana Thombare got the better of Peangtarn Plipuech and Patcharin Cheapchandej . The Indians bagged the first set before faltering in the second. However, they came in clutch with a resounding performance in the tie-break, sealing a victory in the super tie-break, with a scoreline of 7-6, 3-6, 10-3 in an hour and 55 minutes.
The Suhana-sponsored Indian team will take on Hong Kong, in their third match of the Billie Jean King Cup on Thursday, April 10.
The results:
New Zealand bt Korea: 2-1 (Sohyun Park (KOR) bt Renne Zhang (NZL): 6-1, 6-0) Lulu Sun (NZL) bt Dayeon Black (KOR): 6-4, 6-1 Lulu Sun and Monique Barry (NZL) bt Eunhye Lee: 6-3, 4-6, 10-8)
Hong Kong 2-1 Chinese Taipei Ho Ching Wu (HKG) bt Ya-Hsuan Lee (TPE): 7-5, 6-3; Joanna Garland (TPE) bt Hong Yi Cody Wong (TPE): 6-4, 2-6, 6-4; Hong Yi Cody Wong and Eudice Chong (HKG) bt Fang-Hsien Wu and Yi Tsen Cho (TPE): 6-7, 7-6, 10-7)
