Thaindian News

New Delhi, May 13 (IANS) An off-colour Prerna Bhambri failed to get the measure of Japanese Misa Kinoshita and went down 2-6, 2-6 in the semifinals of the $10,000 ITF women’s tournament at the DLTA complex here Friday.

With Prerna’s loss, India’s challenge in the singles is over.

In the doubles, second-seeded Indian pair of Aishwarya Agrawal and Ankita Raina shocked top seeds Rushmi Chakravarthi of India and Fatma Al Nabhani of Oman 6-4, 6-3 to clinch the trophy.

In the other semifinals, third-seeded Keren Shlomo of Israel outplayed Manisha Foster 6-0, 6-3 to set up the title clash with Kinoshita.

Kinoshita, who entered the main draw as a lucky loser, showed good court-craft and never allowed Prerna to settle down. The diminutive Japanese was fluent with her grounstrokes and came off better in the rallies.

Prerna, whose every match enroute to the semifinals went to three sets, showed signs of fatigue and was sluggish with her movement. A rash of errors didn’t help her cause either and she dropped her serve in the third and seventh game to go down a set.

The Japanese began the second set with flourish, breaking Prerna early in the first game and then seventh to serve out the set and the match after an hour’s clash.

Prerna, who reached the doubles semifinal with compatriot Ashvarya Shrivastava before losing to Agrawal and Raina Thursday, admitted being tired but was happy with her performance in the tournament.

“I played all three-setters till today and then also played the doubles. I was feeling a little tired. She (Kinoshita) moved very well and I was not able to match her. I have to work on my movement. I have been working on my serve and strokes and the results are showing. I will continue to work hard and get better,” Prerna, a first year student of Jesus and Mary College, told IANS.

“It has been a good tournament for me, I have learned a lot. I will be next playing in the back to back ITF tournament in June in Delhi.”