Sai, Nirupama move up

NEW DELHI, Nov 30: By the time Hungarian girl Katalin Miskolozi's toss descended from the sky, Indian pro Nirupama Vaidyanathan had groun...

NEW DELHI, Nov 30: By the time Hungarian girl Katalin Miskolozi8217;s toss descended from the sky, Indian pro Nirupama Vaidyanathan had grounded her in a telling straight set win in the first round of the 75,000 ITF women8217;s Challenger at the Delhi Tennis Association courts today.

Playing in India after almost three years, with the AITA bosses and almost everyone else parked on the stands, Nirupama played near-flawless tennis and served notice of her immense on-court intelligence with a 6-1, 6-2 win.

But though Nirupama was the toast of the morning session, another young Indian, Sai Jayalakshmy8217;s win in the afternoon was far more commendable. Playing Austrian Karen Kschwendt, ranked No 131, Sai gave it everything she had to pull off a remarkable three set win and set-up a pre-quarter final clash with Lorna Woodroffe, ranked No 203.

Another happy Indian face was Manisha Malhotra8217;s, who started off rather easily but faltered before coming away with yet another upset win. Manisha beat German Eva Belbl, rankedNo 609, 6-1, 3-6, 6-3.

Meanwhile, Czech Lenka Cenkova bounced the tournament8217;s top seed Rita Kutikis in three sets to set up an interesting date with the doll-like Japanese Rika Hiraki.

Earlier, India8217;s Archana Venkatraman, who moved into the main draw with a tiring three setter on Sunday, caved in to second seeded American Jolene Watanabe 1-6, 1-6.

Three more events

NEW DELHI: The Women8217;s Tennis Association WTA has awarded three tournaments, besides a Challenger, to India for 1999. The International Tennis Federation ITF, which conducts Women8217;s Circuit and Challenger tournaments for WTA will hold two new 10,000 events followed by a 25,000 event in India before the 1999 75,000 Challenger in New Delhi, ITF representative Dianna Bonner said today.

Results:

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Lenka Cenkova Cze bt Rita Kutikis Hun 2-6, 6-4, 6-4, Rika Hiraki Jpn bt Sarah Taylor USA 6-1, 7-64, Abigail Tordoff GBR bt Shizo Hisamatsu Jpn 6-4, 6-2, Sai Jayalakshmy Ind bt Karen Kschwendt Aut 7-65,4-6, 6-2, Lorna Woodroffe GBR bt K. Takuma Jpn 6-4, 6-4, Manisha Malhotra Ind bt Eva Belbl Ger 6-1, 3-6, 6-3, Nirupama Vaidyanathan Ind bt Katalin Miskolozi Hun 6-1, 6-2, Hira Rosen Isr bt Nataly Cahana Isr 6-3, 6-3, Jolene Watanabe USA bt Arcahna Venkatraman Ind 6-1, 6-1