Mysuru, Oct 7: In the middle of a good run, India’s Shrivalli Rashmikaa Bhamidipaty, who has been given the top billing, will look to build on the momentum when the main draw action of the $15,000 ITF Women’s World Tour event begins at the Mysore Tennis Club courts here on Tuesday.
With two quarterfinal finishes in $75,000 events in Perth last month, Shrivalli, who climbed over 400 places this season to 318, was hopeful of going deep in the tournament that wears an open look.
“I feel confident coming into the tournament because I have been doing pretty well. I think I can dig deep into this tournament,” the 22-year-old Shrivalli said after a long practice session. “I am just going to take it one match at a time, one day at a time,” she added quickly.
One of the biggest movers on the WTA rankings chart, Shrivalli will take on Sonal Patil in the first round, and is likely to meet seventh-seeded Akanksha Nitture in the quarters. American second seed Jessie Aney and Elena Jamshidi of Denmark are her main challengers in the event that offers the winner 15 ranking points.
Besides Shrivalli, Riya Bhatia, seeded fourth, Karnataka’s Soha Sadiq (No. 6) and her doubles partner Akanksha Nitture, are the other Indians who will fancy their chances.
KASHVI IN MAIN DRAW
Meanwhile, Mandya youngster Kashvi Sunil made her maiden main draw at the senior level when her opponent Priyanshi Bhandari retired with a shoulder injury in the second set when down 0-3 in the final qualifying round on Monday.
Top-seeded Priyanshi, yet to recover fully from an earlier injury, had won the topsy-turvy first set 7-5. She took a medical timeout after the first set, but was clearly in discomfort and decided to call it quits.
Later, India’s Kashish Bhatia scored a shock win over ninth seed Noemie Dadoun of France 7-5, 6-0 to become the seventh Indian to make the main draw.
Kashish Bhatia