Katherine Ip stuns Rishika Sunkara to lift crown – Kolkata ITF 2012
Hong Kong’s Katherine Ip bounced back to overpower third seed, Rishika Sunkara, in a three-set mouth-watering match at the Kolkata ITF event on Sunday. She nudged up a 2-6, 6-3, 6-3 victory against the local starlet to capture the crown at this ITF (international
Tennis Federation) Women’s Circuit event taking place in Kolkata, India.
The underdog made a slow start at this outdoor hard court tournament taking place from 26th November to 2nd December. However, she re-structured her strategy and ultimately stole the show in almost two hours-long marathon. As a result,
Ip pocketed the prize money of this $10,000 event.
The local challenger made a powerful entry at the Bengal Tennis Association club. After Ip held her serve in the fourth game, the Indian unleashed her skills and wiped out the following four games. She brushed off the only breakpoint she came across to keep
her entire serves. Sunkara cashed two out of three break chances to bag the opener with a 6-2 win.
Ip made a fitting reply in the following set. She cruised to a 3-0 lead with a break of serve. The Hong Kong contender held her composure and swiped remaining serves with poise, eventually clinching the equaliser with a 6-3 score line. She cashed the lone
break chance and dusted away all three breakpoints she came across to rule the set.
The 17-year-old kept momentum rolling in the deciding set which counted the most. She drew the first blood in the fourth game and jumped to a 4-1 lead. Ip then fired angled shots and plucked remaining serves with self-assurance, eventually sealing the decider
by winning six games to three.
All in all, Ip displayed brilliant skills throughout the tournament. She devastated her opponents in straight sets en route to the title-round and ruled throughout the event. The Hong Kong contestant crippled sixth seeded Nidhi Chilumula with a bagel and
a breadstick in her opening match.
She carried her rhythm and devastated the Chinese challenger, Chun-Yan He, with a bagel to enter quarters. Ip maintained her intensity and overpowered another local challenger, Eetee Maheta, in straight sets.
In the final four, Ip upset eighth seeded Shweta Rana with a breadstick to secure the final spot.
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