India go down to Kazakhstan
Ankita Raina notched up an impressive win over the experienced Yulia Putintseva but it wasn’t enough to inspire India as the hosts lost 1- 2 to Kazakhstan in their Fed Cup tie here on Thursday.
Karman Kaur Thandi lacked consistency and lost the opening singles of the Asia/ Oceania Group I tie to world number 55 Zarina Diyas 3- 6, 2- 6.
Ankita emerged a 6- 3, 16, 6- 4 win in two hours and 25 minutes against a player who was ranked as high as 27 last year, to put India in the mix at 1- 1.
However, doubles proved to be India’s weak link as Ankita and Prarthana Thombare lost 0- 6, 4- 6 by Diyas and Putintseva in the decisive match.
India went out of the World Group playoffs race after the defeat after losing to China on Wednesday. From Pool A, China or Kazakhstan will clash with winner of Pool B for a place in the playoffs in April.
India next face Hong Kong and will strive to maintain their place in the Asia/ Oceania Group I.
Ankita, who had beaten world number 120 Zhu Lin on Wednesday, responded to the call from her team with an encouraging performance as her world number 81 opponent found it difficult to have an answer for her relentless returns. It was a dogfight from the baseline as points were long and hard fought.
Earlier, Karman started nervously and was broken at love in the second game allowing Diyas to take a 41 lead. Karman adopted an aggressive approach after that, sending her returns deep down both the flanks. While it fetched her some points, enabling her to display her talent it wasn’t enough to turn around the contest.
A rash of forehand errors resulted in an early break of serve in the second set. Trailing 1- 4, Karman got one break back but lost it immediately, allowing Diyas to serve out the match.