Indian tennis player Riya Bhatia, who entered the W75 Amstetten ITF tournament as a qualifier, delivered one of the most determined runs of her season, reaching the quarterfinals before bowing out to Slovakia’s World No. 286 Renáta Jamrichová in straight sets.
The 27-year-old Indian, ranked outside the top 600, showcased grit and endurance throughout the week, fighting past multiple higher-ranked opponents before her campaign came to an end.
Quarterfinal Exit to In-Form Slovak
In Friday’s quarterfinal match, Bhatia went down 4-6, 3-6 to 17-year-old Jamrichová, who has been making waves on the ITF circuit with her powerful baseline game and court coverage. While the scoreline suggests a straightforward win, the match was marked by long rallies and tight games, particularly in the first set where Bhatia managed to break early but couldn’t hold on against Jamrichová’s consistent pressure.
This was Bhatia’s first quarterfinal appearance at the W75 level in 2025 and her best run in Europe this season.
The Road to the Quarterfinals
Bhatia’s journey through the draw was nothing short of impressive. Having started in the qualifying rounds, she had to win five consecutive matches to make it to the last eight, defeating players from the host country Austria, the Netherlands, and Russia along the way.
Qualifying Round 1:
d. Anna Auer (AUT, NA) – 6-0, 6-0
The Indian opened her campaign with a statement win, dishing out a double bagel against local wildcard Anna Auer. Her aggressive return game and near-flawless serving allowed her to breeze through the opener in under 50 minutes.
Final Qualifying Round:
d. Rose Marie Nijkamp (NED, 764) – 7-5, 6-2
Facing a tricky opponent in Nijkamp, Bhatia held her nerve in a tight first set, saving multiple break points before taking the lead. In the second set, she raised her level and wrapped up the match with greater authority to book her place in the main draw.
Main Draw R1 (R32):
d. Melanie Klaffner-Koller (AUT, 548) – 6-4, 6-2
In what was expected to be a challenging encounter, Bhatia played one of her most confident matches. She broke Koller’s serve early in both sets and controlled the tempo of rallies, using her forehand to dictate play. This win was significant as it came against a top-600 player on her home soil.
Main Draw R2 (R16):
d. Polina Perelygina (AUT, 786) – 2-6, 7-5, 7-6(6)
The second-round match proved to be an epic. After dropping the first set rather quickly, Bhatia mounted a brilliant comeback in the second. In the decider, both players held firm until the tiebreak, where Bhatia showed incredible resolve to edge out the win 8-6, saving a match point in the process. The 3-hour match was a testament to her physical and mental stamina.
A Valuable Week in Austria
Although her run ended in the quarterfinals, Riya Bhatia leaves Amstetten with crucial ranking points, renewed confidence, and proof that she can still push deep into international tournaments despite the challenges of being a qualifier. It is also a sign of the growing depth in Indian women’s tennis, as Bhatia joins the likes of Ankita Raina, Karman Kaur Thandi, and Sahaja Yamalapalli in making their presence felt in the European summer swing.
This performance marks her best result of the year on clay, a surface she has traditionally found difficult, and her first back-to-back main draw wins in a W75 event since 2023. The level of opponents she overcame and the quality of her tennis, particularly in the tight second-round win, could give her momentum heading into the upcoming hard court tournaments.
After this morale-boosting week, Bhatia is expected to continue her European circuit campaign. With her ranking likely to improve, she could gain direct acceptance into the qualifying rounds of upcoming W60 and W100 events. Her improved form also gives selectors something to consider for future Billie Jean King Cup squads or Asian-level tournaments where depth is crucial. Consistency and injury management will be key for the 27-year-old if she hopes to break back into the top 400 in the WTA rankings. With performances like these, she has proven that the hunger and ability remain intact.
Riya Bhatia’s quarterfinal run at the W75 Amstetten was a showcase of perseverance, determination, and skill attributes essential for every professional on the comeback trail. While she couldn’t make it to the semifinals, her wins this week, especially over higher-ranked opponents, suggest there’s plenty more in the tank. With a few more such performances, Bhatia could very well script a successful second wind in her career.
