Top-seeded Prarthana Thombare and fourth-seeded Rishika Sunkara bowed out in the semifinals of the Zuari Garden City $10,000 ITF open women’s tennis tournament at the KSLTA courts on Friday.
However, with rain coming down heavily just before the start of the doubles final, three Indians will figure in the final day’s action with the Prarthana and Sharmadaa Baluu combine taking on the scratch combination of Taipei’s Ching-Wen Hsu and Natasha Palha.
Taipei’s Ching-Wen Hsu’s strong groundstrokes and double-handed backhand worked to a nicety against Prarthana. And with her first serve not coming good, the 20-year-old Indian was always on the back foot.
A hip strain early in the second set added to Prarthana’s woes and the fifth-seeded Hsu, grunting louder and longer, galloped to a 6-4, 6-2 victory.
Prarthana was broken in the very first game and soon was staring at a 1-4 deficit. But things turned around as the Indian punished Hsu every time the Taipei girl eased off the pedal, and with breaks in the fourth and eighth games, the scores were soon level at four-all. But Hsu broke Prarthana in the ninth game and then served out the set.
In the second, it was no better for the top seed as she was broken in the third, fifth and seventh games for the fifth seed to race to a 4-1 lead again. Though Prarthana managed to break back, with some determined play in the sixth, the fight was clearly over. “Eight weeks of constant play has taken its toll,” was Prarthana’s lament.
Hsu will take on second seed Fatma Al Nabhani of Oman in the title round. Fatma beat Rishika Sunkara 6-3, 5-7, 6-2.
Rishika, like Fatma, is a slow starter. But on this day, the 23-year-old Omanese was quicker off the blocks and took the first set 6-3.
In the second, Rishika was more aggressive and played some scintillating winners on both flanks. With breaks in the first and eighth games, she pocketed the set 7-5.
In the decider, Fatma, playing with a blistered right palm, threw caution to the winds and both players exhibited some fine tennis. Fatma, showing greater consistency and character, rolled over with a 6-2 verdict.
The results (semifinals): Ching-Wen Hsu (Tpe) bt Prarthana Thombare 6-4, 6-2; Fatma Al Nabhani (Oma) bt Rishika Sunkara 6-3, 5-7, 6-2.
