Sport - Tennis

Sunitha Rao in semifinals

GREATER NOIDA: Sunitha Rao overcame a lethargic start to overwhelm Sandy Gumulya of Indonesia 2-6, 6-2, 6-1 in the quarterfinals of the ITF tennis tournament at the Jaypee Greens Sports Complex here on Thursday.

There was no lack of determination on her part but the 22-year-old Sunitha was a step too slow to start with and was a bit subdued in her strokeplay. Having lost to the Indonesian girl in the Fed Cup in Bangkok recently, Sunitha was understandably edgy.

However, the US-based Indian stepped up the pace and precision of her strokes to change the complexion of the contest. Equally, Gumulya had the misfortune of being stung by a wasp in the sixth game of the second set. She required medical attention and was not the same force in the rest of the match, managing to win only one of the next 10 games.

After a demoralising start — she found herself struggling at 0-5 in no time — it was an encouraging finish for Sunitha.

“I’m very glad to get through after such an ugly start,” said Sunitha. She said that it would be a different challenge in the semifinals against the third-seeded Margit Ruutel of Estonia.

“Sandy is a counter-puncher but it will be a lot more physical against Ruutel. I’m feeling good and look forward to playing a good match,” said Sunitha, who had lost to the Estonian in a similar tournament around the same time last year in Spain.

The results: Singles (quarterfinals): Anastasija Sevastova (Lat) bt Montinee Tangphong (Tha) 6-1, 6-4; Vlada Ekshibarova (Uzb) bt Aniko Kapros (Hun) 6-3, 2-1 (retired); Margit Ruutel (Est) bt Varatchaya Wongteanchai (Tha) 6-4, 6-1; Sunitha Rao bt Sandy Gumulya (Ina) 2-6, 6-2, 6-1.

Doubles (semifinals): Kelly Anderson & Chanelle Scheepers (RSA) bt Yayuk Basuki & Romana Tedjakusuma (Ina) 6-4, 5-7, 10-6; Teodora Mircic (Srb) & Lenka Tvaroskova (Svk) bt Ksenia Palkina (Kgz) & Anastasia Poltoratskaya (Rus) 6-4, 6-4.

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