ITF tournament: Prerna loses tamely to Kazakh rival in quarters

Pune: India`s challenge in the singles came to an end here thursday as Prerna Bhambri went down tamely to her Kazakh rival Kamila Kerimbayeva in the quarterfinals of the USD 25,000 NECC-ITF women`s tournament at the Deccan Gymkhana courts.

In a battle of two unseeded players, the 21-year-old Indian, ranked 645, was no match for her 18-year-old 393-ranked opponent and went down 3-6 3-6 to make her exit. Kamila was on top throughout the 75-minute encounter against the Indian girl, breaking Prerna`s serve five times. The Indian woman played a much better second set, but still lost the match to a superior and higher ranked opponent. Kamila would meet fourth seeded Italian Gioia Barbeieri tomorrow in the semifinals. The other semifinal will see top seed Linette Magda clashing with third seed Diana Marcinkevica of Latvia. The loss of Sowjanya Bavisetti-Sharmada Balu in the doubles semi-finals later in the afternoon meant that the Indian challenge is over in this tournament. The results: Singles (Quarter finals): Linette Magda (POL) [1] bt Rika Fujiwara (JPN) 6-3 5-7 6-2; Diana Marcinkevica (LAT) [3] bt Nungnadda Wannasuk (THA) 6-3 7-5; Gioia Barbieri (ITA) [4] bt Keren Schlomo (ISR)6-2 6-3; Kamila Kerimbayeva (KAZ) bt Prerna Bhambri (IND)6-3 6-3. Doubles (Semi finals): Nicha Lertpitaksinchai/Peangtarn Plipuech (THAI) [2] bt Ksenia Palkina (KGZ)/Jade Windley (GBR) [3] 6-2, 6-3; Jocelyn Rae/Anna Smith (GBR) bt Sharmada Balu /Sowjanya Bavisetti (IND) 6-1, 7-6(7).