Indian players Ankita Raina and Zeel Desai began their campaigns with confident victories to advance to the second round of the ITF W35 Kalaburagi tournament on Wednesday.
The day saw several Indian players in action at the Chandrashekhar Patil Stadium in Kalaburagi, with a mix of strong performances and tough exits shaping the early stages of the competition. Eighth seed Ankita Raina delivered a composed and controlled display to defeat fellow Indian Sonal Patil 6-1, 6-3, while fifth seed Zeel Desai also progressed after overcoming Jennifer Luikham 6-2, 6-4 in another all-Indian encounter.
Their victories ensured that India maintained a strong presence in the second round, joining compatriot Vaishnavi Adkar as the tournament moved deeper into the draw.
Ankita Raina in Command
Ankita Raina, one of India’s most experienced players on the international circuit, showcased her consistency and tactical awareness in a convincing opening-round performance against Sonal Patil. The match began with Patil holding serve in the opening game, but Raina quickly asserted control thereafter. Using her experience and court coverage effectively, she won the next six consecutive games to wrap up the first set 6-1 in dominant fashion.
Raina maintained the momentum in the second set as well, racing to a 3-0 lead with aggressive baseline play and steady shot placement. To her credit, Patil attempted to stage a comeback, holding serve twice to remain competitive in the set. Even when Raina moved ahead 5-2, Patil fought hard to extend the contest and reduced the deficit to 5-3.
However, the experienced Raina remained calm in the closing stages. She held her nerve in the following game, closing out the match 6-3 to seal a straight-sets victory and book her place in the second round. The win highlighted Raina’s ability to control rallies and manage key moments effectively qualities that have helped her remain one of India’s leading players on the ITF circuit.
Zeel Desai Advances with Solid Display
Fifth seed Zeel Desai also progressed to the next round with a strong performance against Jennifer Luikham. Desai controlled the first set with consistent baseline play, taking it 6-2 by dictating the tempo of rallies and forcing errors from her opponent.
In the second set, Desai continued to vary her game effectively. Mixing powerful groundstrokes with well-timed drop shots, she maintained pressure on Luikham throughout the match. After establishing a 2-1 lead, Desai continued to dominate the exchanges and eventually closed out the match in straight sets, securing her spot in the second round.
Her victory added another Indian name to the next stage of the tournament and reinforced her reputation as one of the consistent performers on the domestic and international ITF circuit.
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Earlier in the day, Karnataka’s Soha Sadiq produced an exciting start in front of the home crowd before eventually bowing out of the tournament. Sadiq surged to an impressive 4-0 lead in the opening set against Singapore’s Eva Marie Desvignes, raising hopes of a potential upset.
However, the momentum shifted dramatically as Desvignes regrouped and began to find her rhythm. The Singaporean clawed her way back into the match, eventually taking the first set 7-5. With the confidence now firmly on her side, Desvignes dominated the second set, winning it 6-0 to seal the match despite Sadiq’s bright start.
Although the result ended Sadiq’s campaign, her early performance against an experienced opponent provided encouraging signs for the young Karnataka player.
The day also brought disappointment for another Indian contender as Shrivalli Rashmikaa Bhamidipaty, seeded fourth, was forced to retire from her match against Elena Burdina due to a medical issue while trailing 5-1. Elsewhere in the singles draw, top seed Jasmijn Gimbrere progressed comfortably with a 6-2, 6-1 win over India’s Aishwarya Jadhav. Sixth seed Thasaporn Naklo also advanced after defeating Valeria Savinykh 6-3, 6-2.
Other results saw Polina Kuharenko beat Akanksha Dileep Nitture 6-2, 6-1, Anna Sedyasheva defeat Sandeepthi Singh Rao 6-2, 6-4, and Elina Nepliy overcome Kashish Bhatia 6-0, 6-4.
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In the doubles draw, there was encouraging news for Indian players as well.
India’s Sravya Shivani Chilakalapudi, partnering Japan’s Michika Ozeki, secured a convincing 6-2, 6-3 victory over the pair of Maayan Laron and Maria Mikhailova to reach the quarterfinals. Meanwhile, third seeds Zeel Desai and Elina Nepliy also advanced with a 6-3, 6-4 win over Anna Sedyasheva and Sofia Suslova, adding further Indian interest in the doubles competition.
With Ankita Raina and Zeel Desai progressing alongside Vaishnavi Adkar, India continues to maintain a strong presence in the ITF W35 Kalaburagi tournament. As the competition moves into the later rounds, the level of competition is expected to intensify, with several seeded players still in contention.
For the Indian players remaining in the draw, the focus will now shift toward maintaining momentum and capitalizing on the home advantage as they aim to push deeper into the tournament.
