Reigning national champion Rashmikaa Bhamidipaty clinched her maiden ITF title, beating a valiant Zeel Desai in an all-Indian final of the Women's World Tennis Tour in Bengaluru on Sunday. (Tennis News)
Rashmikaa won 6-0, 4-6, 6-3 in the title clash to walk away with a winner's cheque of USD 3935 and 50 WTA points.
Desai bagged USD 2107 and 30 WTA points.
Rashmikaa took advantage of an error-prone Desai to gain a break in the second game of the first set and from that point the 27-year-old did not give a semblance of a chance to her opponent, grabbing it 6-0.
However, Desai broke her opponent's serve in the very first game of the second set.
But Rashmika made a break and service-hold in the fourth and fifth games to take a 3-2 lead.
Desai again came back into the set winning three games on the trot to go 5-3 up before winning the set 6-4.
In the deciding set, Desai found herself down 0-3 down after struggling with her serve in windy conditions.
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Rashmikaa also used her strong forehand to good effect and played some brilliant cross court shots which Desai didn't have any answer.
"It is still not sunk in. I knew Zeel is a good player and I was prepared for a 3-setter.
"But losing the second set, I thought of giving it all to win the trophy and that is what I did," said Rashmikaa.
Result: Singles (Final): Rashmikaa Bhamidipaty beat Zeel Desai 6-0, 4-6, 6-3.
