New Delhi, June 6 (Inditop) Top seed Ankita Bhambri claimed the singles title in the $10,000 International Tennis Federation (ITF) tournament with a 6-3, 6-2 win over China’s Chun-Yan He at the DLTA complex here Saturday.
Ankita, who made a second round exit in the first of the back-to-back ITF tournaments last week did not drop a set in the entire second edition and has pocketed $1,568 and 12 WTA points for the win. He received $980 and eight WTA pointsfor her showing.
It was Ankita’s first ITF title in two years, her last being in November 2007 on clay courts of Aurangabad, beating younger sibling Sanaa in the final. Ankita, however, did make two final appearance last year, in the $25,000 ITF event in Gurgaon in June and in Lagos in October.
He, who advanced to the final after second seed Anastasia Malhotra of Japan pulled out midway her semi-final, complaining giddiness, committed far too many errors.
Ankita, with her solid groundstrokes and big serve, broke in the fourth gam, but was broken serving for the set at 5-2 but not before saving three break points and sqaundering a set point. She, however, broke back immediately to close the set.
Ankita then cruised to a 5-1 lead in the second set with breaks in the second and fourth games and was serving for the set in the seventh game but again the Chinese broke back as Ankita committed a double fault at break point. Ankita broke back, and won the match, converting her fourth match point.
A relieved Ankita said it has indeed been a long wait.
“Though I began playing well towards the end of last year, I wasn’t able to win any title. It had been a really long time, therefore, this win is quite refreshing, ” Ankita said.
“I know it will take me some more time to play my usual game. I need to work on my fitness and play more matches.
“I am happy with the way I played today’s match, but I am getting broken when serving for the set or the match. It is not that it plays on my mind, but may be it’s a little pressure as your opponent goes all out with nothing to lose,” said Ankita, who may fly to Pattaya to play in another $10,000 ITF.
rounak