Shruti upsets De Beer, Sonal advances

New Delhi, October 31: Shruti Dhawan of India scored the lone upset victory on the second day of the 25,000 ITF women's tennis champions...

New Delhi, October 31: Shruti Dhawan of India scored the lone upset victory on the second day of the 25,000 ITF women8217;s tennis championship when she knocked-out fifth-seeded Surina de Beer in straight sets to storm into the second round.

Shruti, who entered the main draw on a wildcard, played solid tennis as she beat the South African de Beer 4-0, 4-1, 4-2, retaining her serve throughout.

With this victory, the fastest of the day which lasted just 46 minutes, she books a second round clash with Slovakia8217;s Eva Fislova, who at 355 is 404 places superior to the Indian on the WTA rankings.

Also moving to round two were third-seeded Katarina Daskovic of Yugoslavia and seventh-seeded Ekaterina Kozhokina of Russia. Daskovic, ranked 242, moved past India8217;s Sheethal Goutham who entered through the qualifiers.

Sheethal8217;s run came to an end with a 3-5, 0-4, 1-4 loss in around an hour.National hardcourt champion Rushmi Chakravarthi could not win her opening encounter, going down to qualifier and compatriot Sonal Phadke. Rushmi, who reached the semi-finals of the 10,000 event here last week, could not match Sonal, going down 2-4, 1-4, 0-4, in 63 minutes.

Results Round II: Shruti Dhawan Ind bt 5- Surina de Beer Rsa 4-0, 4-1, 4-2; 3- Katarina Daskovic Yug bt Sheethal Goutham Ind 5-3, 4-0, 4-1; Sai Jayalakshmi Ind bt Maja Mlakar Slo 4-2, 4-1, 4-1; Andrea Van den Hurk Ned bt Dominika Luzarova Cze 2-4, 1-4, 4-2, 4-1, 4-1; 7- Ekaterina Kozhokina Rus bt Masa Vesenjak Slo 4-2, 5-3, 4-1; Urska Vesenjak Slo bt Caroline Raba Ger 4-0, 5-4 7, 4-2; Sonal Phadke Ind bt Rushmi Chakravarthi Ind 4-2, 4-1, 4-0; 1- Eva Krejcova Cze bt Anna Eugenia Nefedova Rus 2-4, 4-2, 4-1, 4-1; Lenka Dlhopolcova Svk bt Arthi Venkatraman Ind 4-2, 4-1, 4-2; Eva Fislova Svk bt Susanna Filipp AUT 4-1, 4-2, 4-1; 6- Lubomira Kurhajcova Svk bt Samrita Sekar Ind 4-1, 2-4, 4-1, 4-2; Olga Kalijnaia Rus bt Radhila Tulpule Ind 4-0, 4-1, 4-2; Jyotsna Vasisht Ind bt Archana Venkatraman Ind 2-4, 4-1, 4-5 5, 5-3, 4-0; 4- Alicia Ortuno Esp bt Helga Vieira Por 4-2, 4-1, 4-0; Angela Cardoso Por bt 8- Manisha Malhotra Ind 1-4, 1-4, 5-4 4,0-1 retd.; Harsimran Bedi Ind bt Ankita Bhambri Ind 2-4, 4-0, 4-1, 4-2.