It was a fruitful week for our boys and girls across various levels and locations, with the biggest highlights being Sriram Balaji’s doubles title at the big $162,480 ATP Santaizi Challenger event in Taipei, and Ankita Raina reaching the final of the ITF $60K Istanbul Lale Cup.
Highlights –
Balaji triumphs in Taipei
Sriram Balaji’s new partnership with 41-year old and former Grand Slam champion, Jonathan Elrich, started on a fabulous note, as they grabbed the doubles title at the ATP Santaizi Challenger in Taipei, beating the top seeds along the way as well.
This is Bala’s 6th Challenger title, with the last 5 being in partnership with Vishnu Vardhan, spread across the last two seasons. Bala will continue his quest at the Anning Challenger this week in China, albeit with American partner Jamie Cerretani, as Elrich has decided against playing on clay.
$162,480 Challenger, Taipei City Final: Jonathan Erlich(Isr) & Sriram Balaji bt Sander Arends (Ned) & Tristan-Samuel Weissborn (Aut) 6-3, 6-2
Ankita reaches final in Turkey
Ankita put together a solid performance at the big ITF $60K Istanbul Lale Cup in Turkey, notching her career best win, against 117th ranked Marie Bouzkova, along the way.
She lost in the final to the red hot Vitalia Diatchenko, who was on a 14-match winning streak, coming into the final match. She’d won the last two tournaments she’d played.
$60,000 ITF Women, Istanbul Final: Vitalia Diatchenko(Rus,96) bt Ankita Raina(Ind,203) 6-4, 6-0
Astra singles finalist, and doubles winner at WTA Bogota
Indian origin Aussie Astra Sharma had the week of her career, making the singles final and winning the doubles title(with partner Zoe Hives) at the WTA event in Bogota, Colombia, on clay.
Astra created one upset after the other in the singles draw, before losing to American phenom Amanda Anisimova in the final in three sets.
Arjun makes SF in Nigeria –
Arjun Kadhe made the singles SF at the ITF $25K(+H) event in Abuja, Nigeria, before losing to eventual winner, Sadio Doumbia, in two close sets.
[SF] (3) Arjun KADHE (IND,393) lost to (2) Sadio DOUMBIA (FRA,389) 6-7(5) 6-7(0)
