Bavisetti,Reddy advance over European hurdles

Bavisetti defeated Serbias Tamara Curovic 6-4,7-5,but it was Reddy who stole the show as she rallied to beat Russias Anna Morgina 2-6,6-2,6-3.

Indian qualifiers Sowjanya Bavisetti and Snehadevi S Reddy scored upset wins over better-ranked European opponents in the first round matches at the NECC-ITF 25,000 USD tennis tournament at the Deccan Gymkhana on Monday.

Bavisetti defeated Serbias Tamara Curovic 6-4,7-5,but it was Reddy who stole the show as she rallied to beat Russias Anna Morgina 2-6,6-2,6-3. That result somewhat nullified the disappointment in the Indian camp after the exit of local girl Prarthana Thombare,who lost in straight sets to top seeded Magda Linette of Poland 6-0,6-3.

Bavisetti,however,faces a tough test in the next round as she readies to take on top seed Linette.

Sharmada Balu was the third Indian to advance on the first day when she defeated Nidhi Chilumula 6-1,2-6,6-1 in three sets. Balu now faces third seed Diana Marcinkevica of Latvia in the second round as the competition gets tougher. Another Indian casualty of the day was Natasha Palha who went down to Gioia Barbieri of Italy 2-6,1-6. Barbieri had a straightforward victory as she conceded only three games on course to her victory before some first round matches were put off due to rains.

Results (Round 1): Magda Linette (Pol) bt Prarthana G Thombare (Ind) 6-0 6-3; Sowjanya Bavisetti (Ind) bt Tamara Curovic (Srb) 6-4 7-5; Diana Marcinkevica (Lat) bt So-Ra Lee (Kor) 6-1 2-6 6-2; Sharmada Balu (Ind) bt Nidhi Chilumula (Ind) 6-1 2-6 6-1; Snehadevi S Reddy (Ind) bt Anna Morgina (Rus) 2-6 6-2 6-3; Gioia Barbieri (Ita) bt Natasha Palha (Ind) 6-2 6-1.

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