Ishita, Sanya prevail in contrasting styles

Ishita will next play the experienced girl from Punjab, Sarah Dev, who has played events in Paris and Wimbledon in the last two years.

Ishita Singh in action against Sanjana Sirimalla in the first round of the Fenesta National sub-junior tennis championship. Ishita won 6-1, 7-6(5).

Ishita Singh made a strong statement as she unleashed stylish strokes on her way past qualifier Sanjana Sirimalla 6-1, 7-6(5) in the under-16 girls first round of the Fenesta National sub-junior tennis championship at the DLTA Complex here on Monday.

Serving well, and moving smoothly into her strokes, Ishita led 4-1 in the second set before Sirimalla teased her by regaining lost ground.

However, Ishita continued with her attacking style of play and was fluent with her strokes in sealing victory in the second set tie-break. Ishita will next play the experienced girl from Punjab, Sarah Dev, who has played events in Paris and Wimbledon in the last two years.

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Much in contrast, the steady-stroking Sanya Singh had to fight her way past qualifier Aditi Narayan in three sets in another under-16 girls match. Sanya prevailed 7-5, 3-6, 6-3.

Tanisha Kashyap who had made the singles semifinals of the women’s and under-18 events last week and had lost to the eventual champions Mahak Jain and Vaidehi Chaudhari respectively, got a bye in the first round of the under-16 event. She will play Sudipta Senthil Kumar in the second round in a draw of 64.

Qualifier Mushrath Anjum Shaik bounced back after losing the first set to beat Princy Panchal 3-6, 6-4, 6-2.

In the boys under-16 section, top seed Madhwin Kamath had to battle the spirited challenge from Sammr Raina 6-4, 6-4 in the first round.

Qualifier Aryan Bhatia  got past Sanskaar Choubey 3-6, 6-0, 6-3 while Aaryan Pandit beat Sarvesh Birmane 7-6(4), 6-2. In the boys under-14 event, Amrutjay Mohanty fought past Mohammed Karim Alim Khan 2-6, 6-1, 7-6(3). In another interesting match, Sarabjot Singh beat Kush Arjaria 6-4, 4-6, 7-6(2). Arunava Majumder beat Parv Nage 5-7, 7-5, 6-3 to set up a second round against Aman Dahiya.

In the girls under-14 section, Radhika Mahajan recovered from a bad start to beat Adithi Are 0-6, 6-4, 6-0. She will next challenge the seventh seed Sanjana Sirimalla. Anjali Rathi had to be at her best to beat Avi Shah 7-5, 7-5. She will face eighth Hrudaya Kaustubh Shah.