Bhambri – Palha final
The top two seeds, Prerna Bhambri and Natasha Palha lived up to their billing setting up a title clash with convincing victories in the semi-finals of the RGUHS ITF Kalaburagi Open here on Friday.
The fourth seeded pair of Karman Kaur Thandi and Druthi Tatachar Venugopal proved too good for second seeds Nidhi Chilumula and Eetee Maheta, winning their second successive double title here on Friday.
Last week the Karman-Druthi pair claimed the KUDA ITF title at the same stadium and with this win has added 12 more points to their kitty and shared $637 between them.
Nidhi and Eetee had to be content with seven points and $343 between them.
“It has been a great two weeks for us and we are happy with the back-to back titles,†said Karman and Druthi after collecting their cheques.
Second seed Natasha Palha downed an off colour Eetee Maheta 6-1, 6-3 and top seed Prerna Bhambri, chasing a hat-trick of titles at Kalaburagi, breezed past Thailand’s Tamachan Momkoonthod 6-1, 6-2.
Natasha, playing good tennis through the week, raced away to a 3-1 lead in the first set breaking her opponent in the very second game.
Eetee, who dished out class tennis all through her path to the last four, was all at sea against the determined second seed, managing to hold serve just once in the first set, in game four, with Natasha winning the next three to clinch the set.
In superb form, Natasha broke Eetee in the very first game of the second set. But The Gujarat lass showed glimpses of coming back when she broke the second seed in the sixth game to level game scores at 3-all.
However, that was all Eetee could manage as the Goan second seed upped her game to win the next three games breaking Eetee in the seventh and ninth games to move into the final.
The second semi-final was a lop-sided affair with Prerna Bhambri spending all of 48 minutes on court to send the Thai player packing.
“I am happy to be in my third final here and yes, I am looking forward to a hat-trick of wins hereâ€, said Bhambri after her semi-final victory.
“I am excited and at the same time I must say, I played my best tennis of the two weeks here in this semi-final (against Eetee). So I am confident going into the finalâ€, added the top seed who is also chasing her fourth title of the year, having won the Nationals, the Ludhiana Open and last week’s KUDA ITF here.
The final promises to be a fitting finale to the two back-to-back ITF events with both finalists showing the class of top seeded players.
Inspector General of Police (IGP) of Northern Eastern Karnataka, Mr Sunil Agarwal presided and handed over the winner’s trophies to Karman and Druthi.
The singles final will be played on Saturday from 10.30 a.m.
Results: (Prefix denotes seeding):
Singles semi-final (All Indians unless mentioned): (2) Natasha Palha bt (7) Eetee Maheta 6-1, 6-3; (1) Perna Bhambri bt Tamachan Momkoonthod (Tha) 6-1, 6-2.
Doubles final: (4) Karman Kaur Thandi / Druthi Tatachar Venugopal bt (2) Nidhi Chilumula / Eetee Maheta 6-4, 6-7 (5), 10-7.
