Lulu does the star turn as New Zealand bounces back to down India

Shrivalli Bhamidipaty gave a shiny begin for India.
| Picture Credit score: Kamesh Srinivasan

Lulu Solar received each her singles and doubles matches to clinch the tie for New Zealand towards India within the Billie Jean King Cup on Tuesday.
| Picture Credit score:
Kamesh Srinivasan

The Indian group went down combating 1-2 in a thriller towards New Zealand, as World No. 41 Lulu Solar pulled her weight in each singles and doubles for the Kiwis, within the Asia-Oceania Billie Jean King Cup ladies’s tennis championship on the Balewadi Stadium on Tuesday.

Vibrant environment

Taking part in in a vibrant environment, Ankita Raina and Prarthana Thombare saved three match factors on Lulu’s serve earlier than bowing out 3-6, 4-6 within the decisive doubles.

Ankita and Prarthana had led 4-2 within the second set earlier than the Kiwis, each left-handers, regrouped their sport to match the craft and depth of the Indian pair.

Shrivalli had earlier given a rousing begin for the host by profitable the primary singles 6-1, 6-1 towards Aishi Das. Serving properly and stroking with aptitude, Shrivalli was focus personified in executing a positive opener for India.

Sahaja Yamalapalli fought laborious within the second singles towards the Wimbledon quarterfinalist, however Lulu raced forward to place the Kiwis on par with a 6-3, 6-3 victory.

It was a tricky begin for Ankita and Prarthana within the doubles beneath the floodlights, earlier than they made the competitors come alive with some strong tennis and imaginative play.

The Kiwis had been relieved to tug by means of, however India, beneath the steerage of captain Vishal Uppal, had given each trace of being properly ready for the challenges forward.

India will subsequent subsequent play Thailand on Wednesday. Thailand blanked Hong Kong 3-0 and Korea obtained previous Taiwan with the same scoreline within the different matches of the day.

The outcomes (league):

New Zealand bt India 2-1 (Aishi Das misplaced to Shrivalli Bhamidipaty 1-6, 1-6; Lulu Solar bt Sahaja Yamalapalli 6-3, 6-3; Lulu Solar & Monique Barry bt Ankita Raina & Prarthana Thombare 6-3, 6-4).

Korea bt Taiwan 3-0 (Sohyun Park bt Ya-Hsuan Lee 6-1, 6-3; Dayeon Again bt Joanna Garland 6-4, 2-6, 6-4, Kim Dabin & Eunhye Lee bt Fang-Hsien Wu & Y Tsen Cho 7-6(3), 3-6, [10-8]).

Thailand bt Hong Kong 3-0 (Lanlana Tararudee bt Ho Ching Wu 6-1, 6-4; Mananchaya Sawangkaew bt Hong Yi Cody Wong 3-6, 6-2, 6-1; Penagtarn Plipuech & Patcharin Cheapchandej bt HOng Yi Cody Wong & Man Ying Maggie Ng 6-3, 6-4).