Riya Bhatia Exits Singles, Keeps India's Doubles Hopes Alive
Ankita Raina and Riya Bhatia Enter Doubles Semifinals at ITF W50 Tournament
BNH NETWORK
New Delhi - India's Riya Bhatia bowed out of the women's singles pre-quarterfinals after a valiant three-set battle against fourth seed Yuriko Lily Miyazaki at the ITF W50 tournament. However, she bounced back to keep India's doubles hopes alive, advancing to the semifinals with partner Vaidehi Chaudhary.
Bhatia, the former national champion, was India's last remaining singles player following a wave of first-round exits by six Indian contenders. She lost 4-6, 6-4, 1-6 to British opponent Miyazaki, ending her singles campaign.
In the doubles quarterfinals, Bhatia and Chaudhary overcame M.J. Portillo Ramirez and Ekaterina Yoshina, rallying from a set down to secure a 4-6, 6-3, 10-5 victory in an intense 85-minute match.
The duo will now face the Indian-American team of Ankita Raina and Naiktha Bains, who upset second seeds Dalila Jakupovic and Laura Pigossi with a 6-2, 3-6, 10-3 triumph. This ensures at least one Indian player in the women's doubles final.
In the top half of the draw, Prarthana Thombare and British partner Alicia Barnett put up a valiant fight but lost to top seeds Mariya Kozyreva and Anastasia Tikhonova, 5-7, 3-6.
Meanwhile, Tikhonova advanced to the singles quarterfinals with a hard-fought 7-6(6), 3-6, 6-2 victory over Japan's Naho Sato. Top seed Darja Semenistja also eased into the last eight, defeating qualifier Ekaterina Maklakova 6-2, 6-0.
