Naomi upsets top seed Rushmi

Qualifier Naomi Cavady of Great Britain upset top seed Rushmi Chakravarthi 6-4, 6-2 on Friday to set up a title clash with Isha Lakhani in the NECC-ITF International Tennis Tournament in Pune.

In the other semi-final, fifth seed Lakhani downed Rebecca Fong of Great Britain 3-6, 6-2, 6-2.

Naomi exercised superb control over her ground strokes to upset Rushmi's rhythm. The opening set saw Rushmi put up a good fight and both the rivals were 4-4 games all.

Naomi, however, broke her Indian opponent in the ninth game to lead 5-4 and then went on to wrap the set 6-4.

Rushmi, ranked 414 in the world, dropped her serve in the fifth and seventh games of the second set to hand Naomi the match.

In the second semi-final, Isha pulled up her game after suffering a reverse in the opening set, which she lost 3-6.

The second set saw a rejuvenated Isha break her opponent in the second, sixth and eighth games.

In the decider, Isha maintained superb control and broke Fong in the sixth and eighth games to win the set and the match at 6-2.

The doubles title was won by Nicole Clerico (Italy) and Ksenia Palkina (Kirgizstan), who beat the Indian pair of Rushmi Chakravarthi and Sai Jayalakshmi 7-5, 7-6 (9-7).

Results:
Singles (semi-finals): Naomi Cavaday (GBR) bt Rushmi Chakravarthi (Ind) 6-4, 6-2; Isha Lakhani (Ind) bt Rebecca Fond (GBR) 3-6, 6-2, 6-2.

Doubles (final): Nicole Clerico (Ita)-Ksenia Palkina (Kir) bt Rushmi Chakravarthi-Sai Jayalakshmi (Ind) 7-5, 7-6 (9-7).