In a significant boost for women's tennis in India, three talented players advanced to the semifinals of the ongoing ITF Women’s World Tennis Tour, marking a remarkable achievement.
Rutuja Bhosale, seeded third and the highest-ranked Indian participant, faced a tough challenge against Kazakhstan’s fifth-seeded Zhibek Kulambayeva. Despite dropping a set, Bhosale displayed remarkable resilience, staging a strong comeback to secure a hard-fought victory with a score of 7-6 (4), 1-6, 6-1.
Bhosale's next opponent in the semifinals will be her compatriot Zeel Desai. Zeel, buoyed by confidence following her victory over the top seed in the pre-quarterfinals, navigated through a challenging match against Antonia Schmidt of Germany. After a turbulent start, Zeel regained her momentum when it mattered most, eventually triumphing in three sets with a scoreline of 3-6, 6-7 (2), 6-4 to secure her place in the semifinals.
In line with expectations, the second-seeded Lanlana Tararudee of Thailand claimed her spot in the last four with a clinical performance, securing a convincing 6-1, 6-2 victory over the seventh seed, Diletta Cherubini of Italy. Tararudee will face the in-form Shrivalli Rashmikaa Bhamidipaty in the semifinals, who swiftly defeated Vaishnavi Adkar with a commanding 6-1, 6-4 win in just 76 minutes.
Zeel, at 24 years old and ranked 938th in the ITF rankings, faced a challenging encounter against her higher-ranked opponent, initially securing a break but facing a spirited comeback from the German player in the first set. However, Zeel, with two ITF titles under her belt this year, showcased improved performance and fewer errors in the subsequent sets, eventually clinching a hard-fought victory.
Both players, coached by the same mentor, exhibited a competitive match with impressive exchanges, showcasing their prowess with remarkable winners. The closely contested match culminated in a tie-breaker, where Zeel capitalized on her opponent's errors, tipping the set in her favor.
In the decisive set, Zeel swiftly took a commanding 5-1 lead, only to face a resurgence from her opponent, narrowing the margin to 4-5. However, Zeel regained her composure just in time, sealing the match with remarkable focus and determination.
Despite battling a viral illness, Rutuja Bhosale expressed that it was her unwavering resolve and determination that led her to victory. After an intense first set, Bhosale experienced a sudden energy slump in the second set, conceding it at 1-6 to her Kazakh counterpart. Summoning every ounce of mental strength, she rallied in the third set to claim a hard-earned victory at 6-1.
(With Agency Inputs)
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