Birrell puts it across Shrivalli, Vekic eases past Sahaja

Janice Tjen of Indonesia, seeded four, endured difficult weather conditions to outclass the defending champion Linda Fruhvirtova of Czech Republic 2-6, 6-3, 6-2 in two hours and 19 minutes to reach the quarterfinals of the WTA 250 Chennai Open tennis tournament at the SDAT-Nungambakkam Stadium here on Thursday.

The Indonesian’s triumph on the Centre court in a match that began at 2 p.m. was certainly a lesson in endurance and the art of fighting back against odds.

Against higher-ranked opponents, Indians and wild card entrants, Sahaja Yamalapalli and Shrivalli Bhamidipaty, lost in contrasting fashions in the round of 16.

Sahaja went down tamely 6-2, 6-2 to Croatia’s Donna Vekic, seeded third, while Shrivalli displayed aggression and spunk, but wasn’t consistent enough as she lost to seventh seeded Kimberly Birrell of Australia 7-5, 7-6(2). With their defeat, Indian challenge in singles came to an early end.

The Vekic-Sahaja match was one-sided. There were few long and extended rallies. Sahaja impressed with her forehand down the line and crosscourt winners but those were few and far between.

Shrivalli was fearless as she produced heart-tugging forehand winners. She broke the Aussie’s serve in the eighth and 10th games to level it 5-5. However, when it mattered most, she couldn’t held her serve in the 11th game while Kimberly held hers. Shrivalli matched the Australian shot for shto from the backcourt stretching the second set to tiebreaker, which she lost eventually. Earlier, Lucky loser Arina Rodionova of Australia made it to the last eight, with a 6-1, 4-6, 7-6 (9) win over her country-mate Storm Hunter.

The results (second round): Janice Tjen (Ina) bt Linda Fruhvirtova (Cze) 2-6, 6-3, 6-2; Donna Vekic (Croa) bt Sahaja Yamalapalli 6-2, 6-2; Arina Rodionova (Aus) bt Storm Hunter (Aus) 1-6, 6-4, 7-6(9); Polina Oatcenko bt Katarzyna Kawa (Pol) 6-2, 6-3; Kimberly Birrell (Aus) bt Shrivalli Bhamidipaty 7-5, 7-6(2).