Shrivalli Rashmikaa Bhamidipaty gained her maiden ITF Women’s World Tour Tennis title with a hard-fought 6-0, 4-6, 6-3 victory over compatriot Zeel Desai on the clay courts on the Bowring Institute right here on Sunday.
The triumph will assure the 21-year-old from Hyderabad 50 WTA factors and can bump her up considerably within the rankings, from 706 to a brand new profession excessive.
On a crisp winter morning, Shrivalli breezed by way of the opening set as Desai had no reply to her power-packed sport constructed on an enormous first serve, a equally deadly second serve and crushing groundstrokes.
However, on the first-set changeover, Desai recalibrated her sport and turned the tables. The 24-year-old from Ahmedabad broke Shrivalli within the opening sport and edged the second set 6-4 after a see-saw battle.
In the third, Shrivalli regained her composure and established a 3-0 lead. Desai, who had gained her quarterfinal and semifinal matches over three units, would have hoped for one final comeback, however it was to not be.
“I came into the event with zero expectations,” Shrivalli stated after the win. “I did a great job by just being myself. I practise on clay in Hyderabad and had good strategies with my coach [Vishal Uppal]. I implemented them very well.”