Top seed Vaishnavi Adkar crashed out of the MSLTA-NDHTA ITF 15K Women’s World Tennis Tour being played at NDHTA’s Ramnagar courts on Friday. In the biggest upset on Day 4, Adkar was stunned by a well-built and hard hitting sixth seed Russian Elina Nepliy in the quarter-finals. The Russian took the first set 7-5 after a fierce battle. In the second set, Vaishnavi came back strongly and took the set 6-2. In the final set, Elina did not let Adkar settle down nor allowed her to gain momentum to take it 6-1 for a place in the semi-final.

 

On Court No 2, third seed Zeel Desai (S3) sailed over eighth seed Anastasia Kuparev in straight sets 6-2, 6-0 to make it to the last four. In an all-India battle, Sonal Patil beat Kashish Bhatia 6-1, 6-4 to make it to the semis. Second seed Zhibek Kulambayuva from Kazakhstan ousted fifth seed Ekaterina Yashina in straight sets 6-3, 6-4 to complete the semis line-up. In the semi-finals on Saturday, Elina Nepliy will face Sonal Patil while Zeel Desai will take on Zhibek Kulambayuva for a place in Sunday’s final. In women’s doubles semi-finals,

 

Elina Nepliy (S2) and Ksenia Luskutova of Russia beat Melissa Boyden (GBR) and Anastasia Kuparev (GER) 6-4, 6-3 while in the second semis, top seed pair of Zhibek Kulambayuva and Ekaterina Yashina beat fourth seed Indian pair of Soha Sadiq and Madhurima Sawant in a tough match ending 7-6(4), 6-3. The doubles finals will be played on Saturday. Sharvan Hardikar (IAS), Managing Director of Maha Metro Corporation, will be the guest of honour. Prashant Sutar, President MSLTA, will also remain present.