UNSEEDED Indian Sahaja Yamalapalli stunned fourth seeded Thailand’s Punnin Kovapitukted 6-2, 6-1 in a one hour and 10 minutes match to enter the singles quarter-finals at the Aryan Pumps-MSLTA Women’s 15K ITF World Tennis Tour Event organised by Nagpur District Hard Court Tennis Association (NDHTA) under the auspices of ITF, AITA and MSLTA at its Ram Nagar courts. The Thai, who won the second leg at Gurugram, looked visibly tired playing her fourth tournament in a row to go down tamely to Hyderabad based Yamlapalli. Second seeded Anna Ureke of Russia was given a fight by Indian player Pratyusha Rachapudi before winning 3-6, 6-3, 6-3 in a match 2 hours and 10 minutes to make her fourth quarter-finals in a row .

 

Top seeded Zeel Desai also making her fourth quarter-finals in a row outplayed Denmark’s Elena Jamshedi 6-2, 6-1. In another prequarters match, third seeded Emily Seibold of Germany overcane a fighting Shrivalli Rashmikaa Bhamidipaty 7-6(4), 6-3 to make the last eight stage. In the doubles quarter-finals the pair of Sai Samhitha Chamarthi and Soha Sadiq upset second seeded Jennifer Luikham and Mihika Yadav 6-3, 6-1.

 

The quarter-finals will be played on Friday morning from 9.30 am onwards on all four courts. Results: Singles: Zeel Desai (IND) (1) bt Elena Jamshidi (DEN) 6-2, 6-1; Anna Ureke (RUS) (2) bt Prathyusha Rachapudi (IND) 3-6, 6-3, 6-3; Emily Seibold (GER) (3) bt Shrivalli Rashmikaa Bhamidipaty (IND) 7-6(4), 6-3; Jennifer Luikham (IND) (6) bt Humera Baharmus (IND) 2-6, 6-3, 6-1; Sahaja Yamalapalli (IND) bt Punnin Kovapitukted (THA) (4) 6-2, 6-1; Vaidehi Chaudhari (IND) (5) bt Yubarani Banerjee (IND) 6-2, 6-1; Sathwika Sama (IND) (7) bt Shreya Tatavarthy (IND) 6-4, 6-2; Sai Samhitha Chamarthi (IND) bt Smriti Bhasin (IND) 6-4, 6-3.