Fourth seed Pranjala Yadlapalli failed to capitalise on a dream start and was beaten 0-6, 6-1, 6-3 by qualifier Kamilla Rakhimovaof Russia in the final of the $25,000 ITF women’s tennis tournament in Andijan, Uzbekistan, on Sunday.
After a whirlwind start, when she won the first seven games, Pranjala lost the next eight games, after fighting hard in many games.
However, at 2-2 in the decider, Kamilla saved three break points to hold serve for 3-2. In the next game, Pranjala dropped serve on the fourth break point after having missed a game point along the way.
Thereafter, Kamilla tightened her hold over the proceedings and did not give any scope for recovery for Pranjala.
The loss in the final apart when she was ready to add to her two similar titles won last year, it was a big morale booster for the 20-year-old Pranjala, as it was only her third tournament, after having missed four months owing to an injury.
The 283rd ranked Pranjala had lost in the second round in two tournaments in Japan, prior to the event in Uzbekistan.
Meanwhile, in the €586,140 ATP Tour event in Munich, the 75th ranked Prajnesh Gunneswaran was beaten 4-6, 6-2, 6-2 in the second and final qualifying round by the 106th ranked Denis Istomin, the former world No. 33 who has reached the pre-quarterfinals of the Australian Open, Wimbledon and the US Open.
Prajnesh, who had earlier fought his way past Alexander Erler of Austria 3-6, 7-6(5), 7-5 collected six ATP points for his efforts.
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