Haruka Kaji eases past Aditi Rawat

Haruka Kaji defeats Aditi Rawat in straight sets at $30,000 ITF women's tennis tournament in Baliyawas.

Fourth seed Haruka Kaji of Japan proved too hot for wild card entrant Aditi Rawat as she cruised to a 6-2, 6-0 victory in the first round of the $30,000 ITF women’s tennis tournament at the Tennis Project, Baliyawas, on Tuesday.

The 17-year-old Aditi was playing in only her sixth ITF women’s event. She had done well to qualify in one of those five earlier tournaments held at home. In those tournaments spread across Indore, Mysuru, Solapur, Delhi and Ahmedabad, Aditi had won some good matches to elicit confidence about being a deserving candidate for a wild card.

A fluent left-hander, Aditi had the game and the temparament, but not the experience against the crafty Japanese, to be able to fight on even terms.

Earlier, Shruti Ahlawat served and stroked with assurance to beat fifth seed Akiko Omae of Japan 6-3, 4-6, [10-8] in the third and final qualifying round, to earn herself a berth in the main draw.

After having missed more than two years of tennis owing to a back injury, Shruti, well guided by coach Namita Bal, has bounced back into the circuit in a strong way.

The 18-year-old Shruti will face the reigning national champion Vaidehi Chaudhari in the first round. Shruti had played two ITF women’s events three years back in Jhajjar and Gurugram, and had lost both the times in the final qualifying round. She has already bettered her record and will be keen to assert her ability in the main event.

Pooja Ingale also qualified as Akanksha Nitture retired early in the second set owing to a bout of sickness. Pooja will challenge the eighth seed Amandine Hesse of France.