Sonal Phadke advances

NEW DELHI, AUG. 9. Sonal Phadke scored a 6-4, 6-3 victory over Nina Nittinger of Germany to move into the pre-quarterfinals of the $10,000 ITF women's tennis tournament in Rebecq, Belgium.

It was a fine victory for the 507th Sonal over the 624th ranked Nina, and the Indian girl will take on the 558th ranked Elke Clijsters of Belgium in the pre-quarterfinals. Sonal had lost rather tamely in the first round of singles and doubles in her first women's tournament in Europe about a fortnight back.

The 539th ranked Jyotsna Vasisht was unable to emulate Sonal, and lost 1-6, 1-6 to the 501st ranked fifth seed Silvia Hegedis of Yugoslavia in the first round.

However, Sonal will face Jyotsna in the second round of doubles. Sonal in partnership with Karishma Patel beat Martina D'Ettore of Italy and Jahnavi Sunderarajan 6-1, 6-4.

Jyotsna in the company of Tania Miro Garcia of Spain defeated Laura Bolet and Anna Font Estrada of Spain 6-3, 6-3, to set up a quarterfinal clash with the fourth-seeded Indian pair.

Sai-Rushmi duo to meet Thais

It was a well-earned rest day for Sai Jayalakshmy and Rushmi Chakravarti in the $10,000 ITF women's circuit tennis tournament in Bangkok.

Rushmi especially had played three matches on the last two days, and two of the singles matches had lasted three hours each.

In the doubles quarterfinals, the top-seeded Sai and Rushmi will take on Prariyawan Ratanakrong and Suchanan Viratprasert of Thailand, who beat Chisayo Ito and Akiko Kinebuchi of Japan 6-3, 6-1 in the first round.

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Section  : Sport
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