Bhambri , Yadlapalli lead three Indians into second round at Endurance Aurangabad Open Womens ITF Championships
NATIONAL CHAMPION Prerna Bhambri created the biggest upset of the day putting out third seeded Ayaka Okuno of Japan , while Pranjala Yadlapalli upset fourth seeded Melanie Klaffner of Austria as they led three other Indians Fifth seeded Ankita Raina, Rishika Sunkara, SnehaDevi Reddy into second round in the singles at the $25000 Endurance Aurangabad Open Women's ITF Championships being played at the EMMTC school of tennis courts here today.
Delhi girl and current national champion Bhambri who made it to the second round at this level after nearly two years gap pulled off the biggest win of the event upsetting third seeded and 289th ranked Ayaka Okuno ranked 125 places above her . Bhambri took 2 hours and 30 minutes to register a 6-3,3-6,6-4 win .
Up and coming junior Pranjala Yadlapalli who made it to the main draw as a qualifier gave a good display of tennis before fourth seeded Melanie Kaffner retired in the third set . Klaffner won the first set 6-7(5) , while Pranjala levelled the set scores winning the second set 6-3. In the decider Pranjala led 3-1 before Klaffner conceded the match .
In other matches featuring Indians, fifth seeded Ankita Raina outplayed qualifier Amrita Mukherjee 6-3,6-2 , SnehaDevi Reddy out rallied Natasha Palha 6-2,6-2, while Rishika Sunkara played strongly to win 6-1,6-2 against wildcard Rashmi Teltumbde and make it to the round of sixteen.
The second round will feature 7 Indians with at least 3 guaranteed a place in the quarterfinals , as Ankita Raina is pitted against SnehaDevi Reddy, Prerna Bhambri taking on Dhruti Venugopal and Rishika Sunkara clashing with Pranjala Yadlapalli . The other Indian Riya Bhatia will clash with seventh seeded Lou Brouleau of France for place in the last eight.