Thandi upsets Julia, to take on Xinyun in summit clash

India's rising tennis player Karman Kaur Thandi, on Saturday edged past second seed Julia Glusko of Israel in straight sets 6-3, 6-3 in the semifinals of the $25,000 International Tennis Federation (ITF) women's tennis tournament. In final Thandi will lock horns with China's Han Xinyun in the title clash.

Thandi, who won her maiden women's ITF title in June earlier this year, logged her third victory over top-200 players this week. On Saturday, she started her one hour and 22 minute-battle with a minor setback as her opponent Julia broke her in the first game of the first set.

However, Thandi fired five aces despite committing five double faults to break back Julia in the second game to level 1-1. Karman again broke Julia in the sixth game to take 4-2 lead and went on to win the set at 6-3.

Earlier, the 20-year-old Thandi, ranked 215 in the world had decimated seventh seed Carol Zhao of Canada 6-3, 6-4 in the first-round match. Subsequently, she defeated third seed Katie Swan of United Kingdom (UK) 6-3, 7-6 in her quarterfinal encounter.