WTA Chennai Open: Vaishnavi and Rutuja cause a flutter, storm into the final

CHENNAI Vaishnavi Adkar and Rutuja Bhosale became the first-ever all-Indian pair to reach a Tour-level final as they took down the second-seeded Polish-American duo of Weronika Falkowska and Alana Smith 6-2, 2-6, [10-8] at the WTA 250 Chennai Open on Saturday. Cheered by 500-odd spectators on centre court at the SDAT Stadium, the Indian duo got off to a quick start as they broke Smith’s serve to love for a 2-1 lead. The advantage increased to 4-1 when Rutuja hit a forehand return right at Falkowska’s feet to get the double-break.

World No. 128 Rutuja held to love and secured the opener soon. However, from 2-2 in the second essay, there was a sudden dip in the Indian pair’s level.

The 21-year-old Vaishnavi committed consecutive double-faults and handed the break to the opponents in the sixth game. Down 2-5, the Indians were forced to use a medical timeout as Vaishnavi faced a left hip issue - the same had affected her during her second-round loss in singles. The Falkowska-Smith duo broke Rutuja immediately after resumption to clinch the second set.