India rose to the occasion in a gripping climax as Ankita Raina and Prarthana Thombare entertained the fans to take India past Korea with a 6-4, 6-3 victory over Kim Dabin and Sohyun Park in the Asia-Oceania Billie Jean King Cup women’s tennis championship at the Balewadi Stadium on Saturday.
India qualified along with New Zealand for the playoff, following its 2-1 victory over Korea. Both teams had four wins each in the six-team competition.
Captain Vishal Uppal played a brilliant role in handling the resources and kept Ankita for the climax, even though the temptation would have been to field her in the No.1 singles, after having put Shrivalli Bhamidipaty to play the first singles.
In the event, Shrivalli played the best match of her career as she bounced back from the clutches of defeat to beat Sohyun Park in a three-hour marathon to clinch the first rubber for India against Korea in the last league match.
In a match of fluctuating fortunes, when both players entertained the fans with brilliant strokes and imaginative play, backed by impressive athleticism and energy, Shrivalli stayed confident right through to emerge the winner.
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Shrivalli could not serve out the match in the 12th game of the decider, but handled the eventual tie-break with poise and power much to the delight of the supporters who shouted their throats hoarse.
It was the fifth straight victory in the championship for Shrivalli, an impressive feat, three wins at No. 2 and two wins at No. 1 against high-quality opponents, which should do her confidence a world of good when she returns to the professional circuit.
However, Korea got back into the tie in the second singles as the No.1 player Dayeon Back handled the challenge from Sahaja Yamalapalli, who was returning to action after two days of recovery, following cramps on the second day.
Sahaja overcame the rustiness to play smart tennis, recovering from 0-3 to 3-3 in the first set, but Dayeon was in good rhythm, and tons of energy to exasperate the wiry Indian.
As it turned out, Ankita and Prarthana were prepared to take India forward in the end, with a spectacular performance against the forceful Koreans.
The results (league):
Thailand bt Taiwan 2-1 (Lanlana Tararudee bt Fang An Lin 6-3, 6-3; Mananchaya Sawangkaew lost to Joanna Garland 6-4, 5-7, 2-6; Patcharin Cheapchandej & Peangtarn Plipuech bt Yi Tsen Cho & Fang An Lin 6-1, 6-2 ).
India bt Korea 2-1 (Shrivalli Bhamidipaty bt Sohyun Park 5-7, 6-3, 7-6(5); Sahaja Yamalapalli lost to Dayeon Back 3-6, 4-6; Ankita Raina & Prarthana Thombare bt Sohyun Park & Kim Dabin 6-4, 6-3).
Content Source: sportstar.thehindu.com