Bavisetti bags ITF women's singles title

Unseeded Sowjanya Bavisetti continued her dream run as she upset second seeded Prarthana Thombare 5-7, 6-4, 6-4, to lift the singles title at the $10,000 Endurance MSLTA ITF Women's tennis tournament here Saturday.

In a three-hour, 15-minute fast paced thriller, the Hyderabad girl played exceedingly well to beat 400th ranked Thombare.

Thombare broke Bavisetti in the 12th game of the first set to win 7-5. Thombare looked confident going for her strokes but some intelligent tennis by Bavisetti took her steam away. With scores going level till 4-4 in the second set, Bavisetti saved two break points to hold serve for 5-4 and then broke Thombare in the 10th to take the second set 6-4.

In the decider, both players made good use of the court, but Bavisetti used Thombare's pace to create good angled winners and coupled with some consistent serves, held on till 4-4.

Thombare missed three break points in the ninth game and Bavisetti held for a 5-4 lead. In the 10th game, Bavisetti broke Thombare at love to take the set and her second ITF title and the first in India.

"I'm just thrilled and can't say much now, the ninth game in the decider made all the difference to my confidence," said Bavisetti who earned 12 WTA points and USD 1,560 for her effort.

On her way to the title, Bavisetti put out fourth seeded Emi Mutaguchi and sixth seeded Prerna Bhambri before scalping Thombare in the final.

"Sowjanya played great tennis and deserved to win, but I tried very hard," said Thombare.