Rutuja Bhosale wins marathon to advance to second round of WTA Pune

India’s teenage tennis sensation Rutuja Bhosale scored her biggest win on the professinal circuit on Monday evening at the WTA Royal Indian Open in Pune.

The bespectacled 16-year-old beat world no. 406 So-Ra Lee of Korea, 3-6, 7-6, 6-4 in a marathon match that lasted more than 2 hours and 40 minutes. Bhosale was up two breaks and 3-0 in the final set before Lee fought back and looked all set to win. But Bhosale hung tough to round out the win.

The first round win for the wild card entrant earns her 22 WTA ranking points, which will see her ranking jump from no. 708 to around the 550 mark. Meanwhile, the other Indian in singles action on Monday, Prarthana Thombare was beaten in three sets by China’s Liu Chang 6-3, 2-6, 4-6.

In doubles action, Rishika Sunkara/ Prerna Bhambri were winners over Arantxa Andrady/ Shivika Burman 6-4, 6-0 to reach the quarter finals.

(3) Donna Vekic (CRO) d. Varatchaya Wongteanchai (THA) 60 61(7) Elina Svitolina (UKR) d. (Q) Andreja Klepac (SLO) 63 62Zhou Yi-Miao (CHN) d. Xu Yi-Fan (CHN) 60 61Luksika Kumkhum (THA) d. Chan Wing-Yau (HKG) 64 64Noppawan Lertcheewakarn (THA) d. Julia Glushko (ISR) 63 75Liu Chang (CHN) d. (WC) Prarthana Thombare (IND) 36 62 64(WC) Rutuja Bhosale (IND) d. Lee So-Ra (KOR) 36 76(4) 64

Doubles – First RoundBhambri/Sunkara (IND/IND) d. (WC) Andrady/Burman (IND/IND) 64 60