Raina, Thandi seal hosts’ win

Ankita Raina capped her fine form at the Fed Cup with a comfortable victory to steer India to a 3- 0 win over Hong Kong here on Friday.

Karman Kaur Thandi defeated Eudice Chong 6- 3, 6- 4 to put the hosts 1- 0 ahead in the Asia/ Oceania Group I tie, snapping her four- match losing streak.

Ankita then overcame Zhang Ling 6- 3, 6- 2 to seal India’s win.

Prarthana Thombare and Pranjala Yadlapalli then defeated Kwan Yau Ng and Ching Hu Wu 6- 2, 6- 4 in the inconsequential doubles.

The last time India won a Fed Cup tie 3- 0 was against Kazakhstan on February, 2016.

India next face Chinese Taipei, the fourth- placed team in Pool B in the relegation play- off on Saturday.

The winner of the tie will remain in Group I while the defeated team will be relegated to Group II.

India last played Chinese Taipei was in 2011, losing 1- 2.

Ankita hit several winners, not losing a single point on her serve in the first two games. She broke Zhang in the fourth game and then staved off four breakpoints in the fifth to take a 4- 1 lead, clinching the first set with ease.

She continued her dominance in the second to quickly go 5- 2 ahead and saved two break points while serving match to win.

Earlier, Karman lost her serve thrice and Chong dropped serve five times in an error prone contest.

But Karman was stronger in the crucial phases of the match. for the