Chennai Open: Ankita Raina loses out in first round

American Allison Riske-Amritraj loses out to Anastasia Gasanova in straight sets 2-6 3-6.

The American Allison Riske-Amritraj lost 2-6 3-6 to World Number 147 Anastasia Gasanova in the Round of 32, headlining the biggest upset of the tournament. Ankita Raina crashed out in the first round, losing to fourth seed Tatjana Maria 0-6 1-6.

World Number 23 Riske-Amritraj came into the Chennai Open on the back of a fourth-round exit at the US Open. She held her serve only twice, handing Gasanova the impetus to put in a dominating display. Riske-Amritraj struggled with the slow-paced nature of the court and the humidity.

Home hope Ankita Raina was outsmarted by Tatjana Maria, who resorted to slicing her forehands low. A Wimbledon semi-finalist this year, Maria showcased her adaptability across surfaces and eased to victory in marauding fashion, dropping a solitary game.

Varvara Gracheva came better off Maria Tkacheva

Second seed Varvara Gracheva eased past Mariia Tkacheva 6-3 6-2 in an all-Russian face-off. Gracheva snapped a 10-match losing streak, beating the qualifier in straight sets. Pole Magda Linette, who is seeded third, got past 21-year-old WTA debutante Moyuka Uchikima 6-4 6-0 among other notable results. Uchijima gave a good account of herself in a tightly contested first set.

On Court 1 of the SDAT Tennis Stadium, Oksana Selekhmeteva beat Despina Papamichail 6-3 6-1 and Brit Katie Swan eased past Arianne Hartono 6-1 6-2. On Court 2, China’s Carol Zhao thrashed Aussie Olivia Tjandramulia 6-1 6-1. The final Round of 32 encounters saw Nadia Podoroska from Argentina beat Japan’s Kyoka Okamura 6-4 6-3.

Eugenie Bouchard paired up with Belgian Yanina Wickmayer in the women’s doubles Round of 16, beating fourth-seeded Katarzyna Kawa and Han Han Xinyun 6-2 6-4. The Canadian made her return to competitive tennis after an injury, notching up her first victory in 18 months. Bouchard will face the impressive Karman Kaur Thandi at Centre Court today. The Indian had upset eighth seed Chloe Paquet 4-6 6-4 6-3 in the Round of 32.

Fifth seed Rebecca Peterson faces Linda Fruhvirtova, and sixth seed Wang Qiang meets Nao Hibino in today’s Round of 16 fixtures. Seventh-seeded Canadian Rebecca Marino plays Katarzyna Kawa for a place in the last 8.

Indians in the Doubles event

There are four Indians to look out for in the Women’s Doubles events. Ankita Raina and Rosalie Van Der Hoek play Anastasia Gasanova and Oksana Selekhmeteva in Court 1, followed by the all-Indian duo of Riya Bhatia and Sharrmadaa Baluu taking on Peangtarn Plipuech and Uchijima. Prarthana Thombare and Jessy Romples face Podoroska and Victoria Kasintseva.

Top seeds Luisa Stefani and Gabriela Dabrowski are in action against Katie Swan and Despina Papamichail, while second seeds Kaitlyn Christian and Lidziya Marozava play Anna Blinkova and Natela Dzalamidze.