Karman Kaur Thandi, probably unnerved at the sight of victory, stumbled against Kim Dabin of Korea 6-4, 4-6, 7-6(1) in the semifinals of the Amul $10,000 ITF women’s tennis tournament at the DLTA Complex here on Friday.
The wiry 16-year-old local girl, playing in her first main draw at this level, had her chances to make the final in a contest of fluctuating fortunes.
In fact, in the tie-break of the decider, Karman had two successive doublefaults and faltered with her forehand four times.
Karman had 12 doublefaults in total against just two aces and she could get only 44 per cent of her first serves in.
After saving two matchpoints on her serve in the 10th game of the decider, Karman could not ride the momentum when she was serving for the match at 6-5.
She dropped serve at love, and managed to win just one point in the tie-break when the Korean netted a return.
Dabin was equally erratic, but played well at the crunch.
Kim Dabin will now attempt to win a double crown, having clinched the doubles trophy with the former Asian junior champion, Rutuja Bhosale.
The results: Singles (semifinals): Katherine Ip (Hkg) bt Kanami Tsuji (Jpn) 6-4, 7-5; Kim Dabin (Kor) bt Karman Kaur Thandi 6-4, 4-6, 7-6(1).
Doubles (final): Kim Dabin (Kor) & Rutuja Bhosale bt Han Sung-Hee (Kor) & Nidhi Chilumula 6-2, 7-6(2). — Special Correspondent