Bhardwaj breaks Bedi8217;s back

Anna Nefedova of Russia, the only foreign player on the Indian circuit, looked tired under the hot sun but after a slight struggle, beat Radhika Mandke 6-4 7-5 to move into the second round at DLTA courts here.

In the only doubles match played today, Nefedova in tandem with India8217;s Simi Rani, defeated Oindrilla Majumder and Sandhya Kanury 6-2 6-3 to reach the quarter-finals.

Nefedova-Rani will now clash with third-seeded pair of Venkatraman sisters 8212; Archana and Arati 8212; for a place in the semifinals.

With the top six seeds receiving first round bye and seventh seed Tara Kanbargimath8217;s match not scheduled for the day, theattraction centered on the Harsimran-Nikita clash.

Nikita opened up a 4-2 lead in the first set with a break in the sixth game and then broke Harsimran again a game later to pocket the set 6-2. After trading breaks early on in the second, both held serves till 4-4.

Nikita held her serve in the ninth and then smashed a crosscourt winner to canter home 6-2 6-4 in one hour and 15 minutes.

Coming here with not-so-inspiring performances from first two legs, the 16-year-old Nefedova demonstrated few sparks of brilliance in the her shots which caught Radhika Mandke on the wrong foot.

Attempting to pick deep returns on her weak backhand, the left-handed Radhika tried to slice the ball but could not get it past the net. The Russian, who looked tired in the stiffling heat, bided for her time after losing a comfortable 4-1 lead in the first set.

Radhika broke Nefedova in the seventh game and after holding her own in the eighth for 4-4, Nefedova changed her gears with some great crosscourt passing winners.Radhika was broken at love in the tenth as the Indian found Nefedova8217;s returns too hot to handle.

In the second set, Nefedova was well on course earning a break in second game but dropped her own in the third as both players treaded with caution then on. After levelling 5-5, Nefedova won her 11th game before earning a matchpoint on Radhika8217;s serve.

The Indian fumbled with her first serve netting it and then served a very weak one. Nefedova pounced on it and smashed a long crosscourt return which Radhika failed to reach. The Russian will meet the winner of the match between seventh seed Tara Kambargimath and Geeta Manohar in second round.

In other first round action, Sumitra Rao beat Vishnu Pritam Mahalingam 6-4 1-6 6-2 in one hour and 50 minutes while Sonal Phadke had an easy 6-2 6-1 triumph over Kalpita Raje in 45 minutes.

Sumitra Rao faces a tough second round tie against top seed Radhika Tulpule of Maharashtra.

The 17-year-old girl from Pune who won the Mumbai leg in style beating SaiJayalakshmi, is in great form and is waiting for her first match here after receiving first round bye.

Sonal Phadke runs into third seed Rushmi Chakravarthy in second round. In another match, Sandhya Kanury overcame stiff challenge from Stuti Smit to win 6-1 7-6 7/2. Her second round opponent will be fifth seed Sheetal Gautham.

Former junior national champion Janaki Krishnamoorthy brushed aside Sricharanya Thiagarajan 6-1 6-2 in 55 minutes to set up a second round clash with Arati Venkatraman.

Nandini Perumal had a tough time against Simi Rani before winning 7-5 7-6 7/4 in just over an hour. She meets Bangalore winner Shruti Dhawan tomorrow. Archana Venkatraman defeated Padma Pritham Mahalingam 6-0 6-1 in 40 minutes and will face today8217;s upset winning Nikita in the second round.

Gujarat8217;s Karishma Patel needed just 55 minutes to beat her six-foot opponent, Oindrila Mujumder of Orissa, 6-1 6-2 for a place in last 16 against second seed Sai Jayalakshmi.

Results

Singles first round:Sumitra Rao bt Vishnu Pritham Mahalingam 6-4 1-6 6-2; Anna Nefedova bt Radhika Mandke 6-4 7-5; Sonal Phadke bt Kalpita Raje 6-2 6-1; Sandhya Kanury bt Stuti Smit 6-1 7-6 7/2; Janaki Krishnamoorthy bt Sricharanya Thiagarajan 6-1 6-2; Nandini Perumal bt Simi Rani 7-5 7-6 7/4; Nikita Bhardwaj bt Harsimran Kaur 6-2 6-4; Archana Venkatraman bt Padma Pritham Mahalingam 6-0 6-1; Karishma Patel bt Oindrila Majumder 6-1 6-2.

Doubles first round: Anna Nefedova/Simi Rani bt Oindrila Majumder/Sandhya Kanury 6-2 6-3.