Billie Jean King Cup 2023: India whitewash Uzbekistan to climb to joint top

Teams that finish in the top two will be promoted to the playoffs.

India continued its fine form with a second win in as many days whitewashing hosts Uzbekistan (3-0) in the second group match at the Billie Jean King Cup 2023 Asia/Oceania Group I in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, on Wednesday. India had earlier beaten Thailand 2-1 on Tuesday to kickstart their proceedings.

With their 3-0 win over the hosts, India now have a win/loss record of 5-1 in the Billie Jean King Cup and have climbed to the top of Pool A alongside Japan, who have the same record. Teams that finish inside the top two will earn promotion to the playoffs, while sides finishing in the bottom two will be relegated to Group II.

Against Uzbekistan, Rutuja Bhosale — ranked 400th in the WTA singles rankings — started the proceedings on a winning note defeating Sabrina Olimjanova (5-7, 6-2, 6-4) in a close three-setter. Like the opening encounter against Thailand, Rutuja Bhosale lost the first set but put up a strong fight in the next two sets. Uzbekistan are playing without their top-ranked singles player Nigina Abdurimova (ranked 186). 16-year-old Sabrina plays the majority of her matches in the junior circuit and is currently unranked in the senior setup.

Ankita Raina doubled the lead, winning a one-sided match against Uzbekistan’s top-ranked singles player of the tournament Sevil Yuldasheva (6-4, 6-2). The world number 221 has been in red-hot form and has won all three matches she has competed in so far.

Vaidehi Chaudhari/Bhamidipaty Shrivalli Ramakrishna paired up in the doubles section and beat Ominahon Valihanova/Maftunabonu Kahramonova in straight sets (6-1, 6-0) inside an hour. Shrivalli came in as a last-minute replacement for Karman Kaur Thandi and made use of the opportunity by winning her maiden tie.

The Indian management took a wise call in resting Ankita and Rutuja and instead gave a chance to the young and inexperienced duo.

With this win, India jumped a place higher in the Billie Jean King Cup points table and currently occupy the second spot with five wins and a loss, same as leaders Japan. In the other two encounters in the group, South Korea defeated higher-ranked China (2-1) and Japan beat Thailand (2-1).

India will take on mighty Chinese on April 13 (tomorrow) and a win here will boost India’s chances of finishing inside the top two and thereby progress to the playoffs.