ITF Women's Open: Sahaja Yamalapalli beats Dayeon Back in three sets

India's Sahaja Yamalapalli advanced to the Round of 16 at the KPB Trust ITF Women's Open in Bengaluru, beating Korea's Dayeon Back 6-2, 1-6, 6-2. Ankita Raina also won her doubles match, while Vaishnavi Adkar won an all-Indian clash.

Sahaja Yamalapalli's Gritty Three-Set Victory

India's Sahaja Yamalapalli produced a gritty three-set performance to book her place in the Round of 16 of the KPB Trust ITF Women's Open W100 Bengaluru 2026, overcoming a mid-match wobble to seal a 6-2, 1-6, 6-2 victory in an entertaining singles clash on Tuesday.

Yamalapalli began the contest against Korea's Dayeon Back on the front foot, striking cleanly from the baseline and moving confidently towards the net to dictate play in the opening set. Her aggressive approach ensured she wrapped up the first set 6-2 with authority, as per a press release.

The momentum shifted in the second set as a string of unforced errors crept into her game. Her opponent capitalised on the dip, breaking rhythm, which allowed Yamalapalli to concede set 1 6-1. However, the Indian quickly reset in the decider. Locked at 2-2 in the third set, Yamalapalli raised her level, sweeping through the remaining games to complete a convincing 6-2, 1-6, 6-2 triumph and move into the Round of 16.

Raina and Nugroho Command in Doubles

Later in the day, the doubles pairing of Ankita Raina and Indonesia's Priska Madelyn Nugroho delivered a commanding 6-4, 6-1 win. Facing Poland's Zuzanna Pawlikow and India's Vasanti Shinde, the duo were locked in a tight battle through much of the opening set.

With the score finely poised at 5-4, Raina stepped up in the 10th game, unleashing a series of powerful returns to break serve and clinch the set 6-4. Carrying that momentum into the second set, Raina and Nugroho struck early by breaking Shinde's serve to establish control. From there, they dictated proceedings with confident net play and consistent serving, racing away to seal the set 6-1 and close out the match.

Other Match Highlights

Singles

In other singles results, the all-Indian wildcard clash saw Vaishnavi Adkar edge Shruti Ahlawat 6-1, 7-6 in a competitive encounter. While eighth seed Mai Hontama registered a 6-2, 6-1 win over Diletta Cherubini, and Erika Andreeva advanced after Nicole Fossa Huergo retired while trailing 7-6(12), 1-0.

Doubles

In doubles action, the Indian duo of Shrivalli Rashmikaa Bhamidipaty and Maaya Rajeshwaran Revathi secured a 6-1, 6-3 victory over Harshini N Nagaraj and Vanshita Pathania. Meanwhile, the Japanese pair of Misaki Matsuda and Eri Shimizu defeated Polina Bakhmutkina and Maria Golovina 6-4, 6-2. The fourth-seeded duo of Dayeon Back and Sohyun Park eliminated the Indian pairing of Akanksha Dileep Nitture and Soha Sadiq 6-2, 6-1.

Results

Singles

Sahaja Yamalapalli (IND) bt Dayeon Back (KOR) 6-2, 1-6, 6-2; Vaishnavi Adkar (IND) bt Shruti Ahlawat (IND) 6-1, 7-6(6); 8-Mai Hontama (JPN) bt Diletta Cherubini (ITA) 6-2, 6-1; Erika Andreeva bt Nicole Fossa Huergo (ARG) 7-6(12), 1-0(retired)

Doubles

3-Ankita Raina (IND)/Priska Madelyn Nugroho (INA) bt Pawlikow/Shinde 6-4, 6-1; Shrivalli Rashmikaa Bhamidipaty (IND)/Maaya Rajeshwaran Revathi (IND) bt Harshini N Nagaraj (IND)/Vanshita Pathania (IND) 6-1, 6-3; 4-Dayeon Back/Sohyun Park (KOR) bt Akanksha Dileep Nitture/Soha Sadiq 6-2, 6-1; Misaki Matsuda (JPN)/Eri Shimizu (JPN) bt Polina Bakhmutkina (BEL)/Maria Golovina 6-4, 6-2. (ANI)

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