Vaishnavi scores upset win over Sunkara

In a marathon match, which lasted two hours and 35 minutes, Vaishnavi showed nerves of steel to prevail over much fancied Rishika.

It was a well fought baseline battle under the scorching sun and the match was marked by long rallies and frequent service breaks.

In the first set, Vashnavi after trading regular brakes went up 6-5, but failed to close the set on her serve, dropping the 12th game with a double fault, thus pushing the set to a tie breaker.

Vaishnavi raced to a 6-1 lead but Rishika fought back to make it 6-6. Vaishnavi however hung in to take the next two points and won the set.

In the second set, Vaishnavi took a medical time but came back strongly to break rival decisively in the ninth game and closed the set on her serve at 6-4.

The third seed Kyra Shroff was also tested by another wild card Samhitha before she prevailed 7-6 (2) 6-1. Kyra found the going hard in the first set and committed a lot of unforced errors.

In fact, Samhitha led 6-5 and was set to close the set on her serve. But Kyra broke her and stretched the issue to a tie breaker, which she won comfortably.

In the second set Kyra called the shots as Samhitha ran out of steam and ideas, leaving Kyra an easy winner.

In the third singles, Pei-chi Lee of Taipei beat Min Liu of China at 6-3 6-1.

Earlier the tournament was inaugurated by Gulbarga Deputy Commissioner Praveen Pawar.