The Indian women’s tennis team bounced back from a disappointing defeat against China to secure a crucial 2-1 victory over Chinese Taipei in the Billie Jean King Cup Asia/Oceania Group I competition on April 11th. This win keeps their qualification hopes alive for the playoffs.
MATCH 1 : RUTUJA BHOSALE VS HAO-CHING CHAN
India started the tie on a strong note with Rutuja Bhosale dominating her singles match. Bhosale, ranked 379th in the world, displayed exceptional form against her 1094 ranked opponent from Chinese Taipei. Rutuja won the match 6-3 6-2.
MATCH 2 : ANKITA RAINA VS EN SHUO LIANG
However, the second singles match saw a setback for India. Ankita Raina, although putting up a fight, couldn’t overcome her opponent. Raina, ranked 255th, fell short against 289 ranked player, going down 6-2 4-6 4-6.
MATCH 3 : ANKITA RAINA/PRARTHANA THOMBARE VS HAO-CHING CHAN/EN SHUO LIANG
The tie hung in the balance, hinging on the outcome of the doubles match. The Indian duo of Prarthana Thombare and Ankita Raina showcased their experience as the pair came from a set down and saved 3 match points in the Super Tiebreaker to eventually win the match 4-6 6-1 15-13.
This win puts India in a strong position to qualify for the playoffs. They will need to continue their winning momentum in their remaining matches.
India will be up against Korea tomorrow and will play their final round robin match against New Zealand on 13th April. India are currently at no 3 in the group with Korea at the top and New Zealand at no 4. The top two teams will win promotion to the 2024 Billie Jean King Cup Play-offs, while the bottom two teams will be relegated to Asia/Oceania Group II in 2025.
Below are some pictures from the India vs China tie :
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