Nefedova recovers to overcome Shruti

NEW DELHI, MAY 8: Russia's Anna Nefedova, after a slow start, got into her stride just in time to knock Shruti Dhawan out and win the thi...

NEW DELHI, MAY 8: Russia’s Anna Nefedova, after a slow start, got into her stride just in time to knock Shruti Dhawan out and win the third leg of the ITF Women’s Circuit tennis today. The unseeded Russian, who failed to impress in the first two legs, was at her best in 2-6, 6-2, 6-0 demolition of Shruti, the winner of the second leg in Bangalore last week.

After Shruti won the first set, the script changed totally in the second set as Anna, despite losing her serve in the first game, broke Shruti in the next taking advantage of the Indian’s double fault.

Anna tightened her grip on the match by winning the set 6-2 when Shruti netted some easy returns. Facing two set points, Shruti sliced a deep return that fell into the net.

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The Russian was in her elements in the decider and reeled off six games in a row to win the match in an hour and 12 minutes.

It was a double heart-break for Shruti as she lost the doubles final, too, alongside Sheetal Gautham when the duo was beaten 5-7, 2-6 by top seeded pair ofSai Jayalakshmy and Rushmi Chakravarthi.

Shruti/Sheetal pair put up a good fight in the first set. After trailing 0-3 they traded two breaks each before levelling 5-5. Sai held her serve in the 11th and a tired Shruti dropped her service to hand over the first set to Sai/Rushmi.

Nefedova pocketed $ 650 (approximately Rs 27,000) for the singles win while Shruti settled for $ 450 (approximately Rs 19,000). The top 16 players, based on the points picked up during the three-leg (Mumbai, Bangalore, Delhi) Indian circuit, will head to Lucknow for ITF Masters starting on May 10.

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RUSHMI TOP SEED: Rushmi Chakravarthi, finalist in Bangalore and a semifinalist here, has been top seeded in the draw for Masters.

Rushmi, with 28 circuit points, was seeded ahead of Shruti Dhawan and Radhika Tulpule, both with 28 points each, following her better WTA rankings (884).

Shruti, the winner in Bangalore and finalist here, has been seeded second by virtue of her being in the WTA list while Mumbai winner Radhika,who was seeded top here, settled for third spot as she is yet to pick WTA points.

Sai Jayalakshmi is seeded fourth with 26 points. Delhi leg winner Anna Nefedova of Russia (23 points) though unseeded here, however, will be a tough competitor on Lucknow grass courts.