Indian women’s tennis produced an encouraging collective performance at the ITF W35 Solapur, with three Indian players progressing to the semifinals and underlining the growing competitiveness of the domestic circuit.
Leading the charge was Vaishnavi Adkar, whose composed three-set victory in the quarterfinals set the tone for a day that firmly belonged to the home contingent.
Adkar delivered one of her most assured performances of the season to overcome Russia’s Maria Golovina 6-2, 3-6, 7-6 in a closely contested encounter. Ranked 691 in the WTA rankings, Adkar went up against a marginally higher-ranked opponent in Golovina, who is placed at 671, but showed little sign of intimidation. From the outset, the Indian was proactive in rallies, using depth off the groundstrokes and a solid return game to dictate play.
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The opening set was a reflection of Adkar’s intent. She took the ball early, forced Golovina into uncomfortable positions, and capitalised on short balls to race through the set 6-2. Golovina, however, adjusted well in the second set, increasing her aggression and finding better rhythm on serve. Adkar momentarily lost her timing, allowing the Russian to level the match with a 6-3 set.
The decider turned into a tense battle of patience and nerve. With both players holding serve under pressure, the set moved inexorably towards a tiebreak. Adkar’s shot selection stood out in the crucial moments, as she resisted the temptation to go for low-percentage winners and instead trusted her consistency. That approach paid dividends as she edged the tiebreak to close out the match, sealing a significant win and a place in the semifinals.
Joining Adkar in the last four was second seed Shrivalli Rashmikaa Bhamidipaty, who once again demonstrated her ability to problem-solve mid-match. Facing fellow Indian Maaya Rajeshwaran Revathi Bhamidipaty endured a difficult second set losing it 5-7 after winning the first one comfortably 6-2. Shrivalli aggressive hitting initially unsettled the lower-ranked player, and Maaya tried to respond with greater control and court coverage.
In the third set, Bhamidipaty began to assert herself from the baseline, extending rallies and forcing errors from her opponent. She took a dominant 6-1 third set completed the turnaround and ensured her passage into the semifinals.
The third Indian to advance was Vaidehi Chaudhari, who emerged victorious from a marathon quarterfinal against France’s Ksenia Efremova. Chaudhari’s 4-6, 6-4, 7-5 win was the longest and most physically demanding match of the round, stretching close to three hours. After losing the first two sets, the sixth seed showed remarkable resilience to stay in the contest.
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Chaudhari gradually began to grind down Efremova by extending points and targeting consistency rather than outright winners. As fatigue set in for the French player, Chaudhari raised her level in the latter stages, breaking serve at critical moments in the third and fourth sets. Her ability to hold nerve in the closing games proved decisive, completing a comeback that stood out as one of the most impressive performances of the tournament so far.
With three Indians in the semifinals, the draw now guarantees at least one Indian finalist. Vaishnavi Adkar will face Vaidehi Chaudhari in an all-Indian semifinal, a clash that promises contrasting styles and high intensity. The other semifinal will see Shrivalli Rashmikaa Bhamidipaty take on Japan’s M. Ozeki, as she looks to continue her steady run in Solapur.
The strong Indian presence at this stage highlights the importance of hosting domestic ITF events, offering valuable match exposure and ranking opportunities for emerging players. For Adkar, in particular, her quarterfinal win represents a meaningful step forward as she looks to build consistency on the professional circuit.
As the tournament moves into its decisive phase, Indian players remain firmly in contention, carrying both confidence and momentum into what promises to be an intriguing finish at Solapur.
