Vaidehi Chaudhari played a robust attacking game, serving strong, moving briskly and hitting strokes fluently on both flanks, to outwit the country’s No. 1 player and the third seed, Ankita Raina 7-6(7), 6-3 in the first round of the $25,000 ITF women’s tennis tournament at the Tennis Project, Baliawas, on Wednesday.
The 29-year-old Ankita played very well, but the 22-year-old Vaidehi survived the set points to take the first set and that turned the tide in her favour. It was the first meeting between the two in the professional circuit and proved unforgettable for Vaidehi.
Qualifier Vineetha Mummadi, recovered after losing the first set to be on level terms with second seed Peangtarn Plipuech, before the Thai retired owing to exhaustion, unable to tackle the heat and humidity.
