Mumbai Open 2024: With a victory over second-seeded Nao Hibino, Shrivalli Bhamidipaty extends her incredible run. The L&T Mumbai Open WTA 125K Series Tennis Championships are being held at the floodlit Cricket Club of India (CCI) courts in Maharashtra.
A day after wild card player Sahaja Yamalapalli sent top seed Kayla Day of the USA crashing out of the tournament, Indian qualifier Shrivalli Bhamidipatty pulled off another incredible upset, defeating second seed Nao Hibino of Japan in the first round.
The 22-year-old Bhamidipaty, who is ranked No. 520 in the world and is up against a top 100 player for the first time, overcame the three-time WTA champion Hibino 2-6, 6-1, 7-6 (5) in two hours and 17 minutes after winning two matches in qualification to go to the main draw.
In the pre-quarterfinals, the Indian will face 16-year-old Russian Alina Korneeva.
Rutuja Bhosale, the gold medallist in mixed doubles at the Asian Games, defeated Peangtarn Plipuech of Thailand 6-4, 7-5 in straight sets earlier in the day to advance three Indians to the second round of the nation’s largest professional women’s tennis competition this year.
Subsequently, American eighth seed Katie Volynets defeated Indian top seed Ankita Raina in straight sets, 6-4, 6-2, with little resistance.
Good news for local supporters also came from the doubles event, as top-seeded Indian Prarthana Thombare and her Dutch partner Arianne Hartono stunned the fourth-seeded Thai pair Luksika Kumkhum/Peangtarn Plipuech and advanced to the quarterfinals 6-4, 2-6, 10-6.
Fourth-seeded Arina Rodionova defeated Dutch player Suzan Lamens 6-2, 7-5. This week, Rodionova made history as the oldest woman to debut in the top 100 rankings at the age of 34.
Third-seeded Tamara Zidansek withdrew from the competition, leaving Camilia Rosatello as the lucky loser who defeated Anastasia Tikhonova 7-5, 3-6, 6-2. In a two-hour and thirty-five-minute match, the seventh-seeded Kimberly Birrel was also defeated, falling to Dalma Galfi of Hungary 2-6, 6-4, 5-7.
Round 1 Results – Singles:
Shrivalli Bhamidipaty (IND) beat 2-Nao Hibino (JPN) 2-6, 6-1, 7-6(5);
4-Arina Rodionova (AUS) bt Suzan Lamens (NED) 6-2, 7-5;
Dalma Galfi (HUN) bt Kimberly Birrell (AUS) 6-2, 4-6, 7-5;
Polina Kudermetova bt Anastasia Zakharova 7-6 (8), 6-0;
Moyuka Uchijima (JPN) bt Carole Monnet (FRA) 6-3, 6-3
WC-Rutuja Bhosale (IND) Q-Peangtarn Plipuech (THA) 6-4, 7-5;
Storm Hunter (AUS) bt Q-Fanny Stollar (HUN) 3-0 retd.
Q-Amandine Hesse (FRA) bt Q-Lina Glushko (ISR) 6-1, 6-1;
LL-Camilia Rosatello (ITA) bt Anastasia Tikhonova 7-5, 3-6, 6-2.
8-Katie Volynets (USA) bt WC-Ankita Raina (IND) 6-4, 6-2
Doubles (First Round):
A Hartono (NED) / P. Thombare (IND) bt 4-L. Kumkhum (THA) / P. Plipuech (THA) 6-4, 2-6, 10-6.
C. Monnet (FRA) / E. Yashina def. V. Grammatikopoulou (GRE) / D. Semenistaja (LAT) 7-6, 6-4
