Karman and Bouchard pass the first test

The two take contrasting routes to set up an intriguing second-round clash

No amount of out-of-competition drill can quite prepare you for dragging your aches and pains through a full day of in-tournament action.

Chennai was hosting its first Tour-level tournament in five and a half years. Karman Thandi was playing her first Tour-level main draw match in four years. Eugenie Bouchard was playing her first Tour-level main draw match in 18 months.

Chennai seemingly passed the test. Karman and Bouchard definitely did, beating eighth seed Chloe Paquet of France 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 and Swiss Joanne Zuger 7-6(4), 6-2 respectively to set up a mouth-watering second-round clash at the WTA Chennai Open.

Monday will be extra special for Karman, for she beat a player ranked 250 places above her (109) for what was her second-ever 250-level match-win.

“This is very special, because it is at home,” Karman said. “It wasn’t an easy match. But I stayed put and fought hard. The crowd helped. I could feel the energy. Will power and grit to fight, that’s what I showed.”

Karman went up 3-1 in the first set only to lose it 4-6 by double-faulting on set point. But she shrugged off the disappointment relatively quickly, breaking to love at 3-3 in the second set, with two powerful forehand winners the standout shots.

Karman’s serve came under pressure immediately after, as Paquet earned a break point. But the Indian whipped a low ball for a fine forehand winner to get out of jail, and then levelled the match, courtesy two gritty service holds. In the third, Paquet was 2-0 up but Karman won six of the next seven games to coast to victory.