Ankita powers past Parija
(ITF Women's tennis tournament, Delhi)

FRIDAY 05, JUNE 2009.

Ankita Bhambri outplayed Parija Maloo 7-5, 6-2 in the quarterfinals of the $10,000 ITF women’s tennis tournament at the DLTA Complex.

In the semifinals, Ankita will meet Korean qualifier Soon-Mi Seo, who did not break into a sweat as her Chinese opponent, Duan Ying Ying, the champion last week, retired.

Rashmi Teltumbede promised to put a second Indian name in the semifinals.

But after winning the first set in the tie-break in which she was 2-5 down, the young girl was a step slow and lost her way.

Rashmi matched He-Chun Yan of China stroke for stroke, but the latter fought her way through with sheer determination.

Bhambri sisters in final

In the doubles semifinals, the top-seeded Ankita and Sanaa — survived a match point to defeat the third-seeded Bai Xi and Li Ting of China 14-12 in the super tie-break.

Results:

Singles (quarterfinals): Ankita Bhambri bt Parija Maloo 7-5, 6-2; Soon-Mi Seo (Kor) bt Duan Ying Ying (Chn) 6-0 (retd.); He Chun Yan (Chn) bt Rashmi Teltumbe 6-7(6), 6-4, 6-1; Anastasia Malhotra (Jpn) bt Li Ting (Chn) 6-1, 6-1.

Doubles (semifinals): Ankita Bhambri & Sanaa Bhambri bt Bai Xi & Li Ting (Chn) 6-4, 5-7, 14-12. Soon-Mi Seo & Jung-Yoon Shin (Kor) w.o. Duan Ying Ying & Yuan Yue (Chn).