To face Japanese pair of Kanako Morisaki and Naho Sato

India’s unseeded players  Riya Bhatia and Zeel Desai will face Japan’s third seed duo of Kanako Morisaki and Naho Sato in the Women’s Doubles final of the 11th International Women's Tennis Championship (NAVI MUMBAI Open ITF W50 Championship) organized by the Navi Mumbai Sports Association (NMSA) in association with MSLTA under the auspices of the ITF and AITA.

As has been the case in the tournament, the Indo duo of Riya and Zeel once again showcased great resolve, grit and never say die attitude to upset second seed Indo- Kazakhstan pair of Shrivalli Bhamidipaty and Zhibek Kulambayeva in three hard fought sets at the Ganesh Naik Tennis Complex in Vashi, Navi Mumbai. Having won the opening set 6-3 after leading 3-0 at one stage, Riya and Zeel pairing only for only the second time this season lost the second set 3-6 marked by multiple serve breaks to the consistent Shrivalli and Zhibek. In the deciding third set (Super tiebreak) having taken a firm 5-1 lead the unseeded duo faced a brief fight back from the second seed that saw the lead narrow down to one point (6-5). Not too fazed by the proceedings Riya and Zeel found their groove as they went on to win the next four points in a row including executing two serve breaks to enter their maiden final as a pair. The two earlier had knocked off experienced Japanese-Latvian pair of Honoka Kobayashi and Diana Marcinkevica also in three sets after losing the opening set and followed it with another shock win over fourth seeded Japanese-Indian duo of Hiroko Kuwata and Sahaja Yamalapalli also in three hard fought sets.

“Having lost thrice in super tie breaks in three previous tournaments as a pair, to win three in a row in this season end tournament at the picturesque hard courts in Navi Mumbai is really satisfying. Having reached the final we hope to put it across our Japanese opponent with the same resolve,” shared an elated Riya Bhatia and Zeel Desai post the match.

In the other Semi-final the Japanese third seed duo of Kanako and Naho created a major upset by defeating the inconsistent top seed Indian duo of Ankita Raina and / Prarthana G Thombare in two straight sets 6-2, 6-3 in a match that lasted 1 hour 15 minutes.

Results (Women’s Doubles):  

Pre-Quarterfinals: 1) Ankita Raina (IND) / Prarthana G Thombare (IND) beat Anri Nagata (JPN) / Michika Ozeki (JPN) 6-4, 6-4; (WC) Smriti Bhasin (IND) / Sravya Shivani Chilakalapudi (IND) beat (WC) Akanksha  Nitture (IND) / Soha Sadiq (IND) 6-4, 6(5)-7, 10-6; 3) Kanako Morisaki (JPN) / Naho Sato (JPN) beat Punnin Kovapitukted (THA) / Tian Fangran (CHN) 7-5, 6-3; Zuzanna Pawlikowska (POL) / Tiantsoa Sarah Rakotomanga Rajaonah (FRA) beat Valentini Grammatikopoulou (GRE) / Anastasia Kulikova (FIN) 6-2, 6-2;  Riya Bhatia (IND) / Zeel Desai (IND) beat Honoka Kobayashi (JPN) / Diana Marcinkevica (LAT) 5-7, 6-2, 10-8; 4) Hiroko Kuwata (JPN) / Sahaja Yamalapalli (IND) beat Vaishnavi Adkar (IND) / Pooja Ingale (IND) 6-3, 4-6, 10-7;  Thasaporn Naklo (THA) / Bunyawi Thamchaiwat (THA) beat Priska Madelyn Nugroho (INA) / Ekaterina Yashina (RUS) 5-7, 6-4, 12-10; 2) Shrivalli Bhamidipaty (IND) / Zhibek Kulambayeva (KAZ) beat (WC) Snehal Mane (IND) / Sonal Patil (IND) 6-2, 6-2 .

Quarter-Finals: 1) Ankita Raina (IND) / Prarthana G Thombare (IND) beat (WC) Smriti Bhasin (IND) / Sravya Shivani Chilakalapudi (IND) 6-1, 6-1; 3) Kanako Morisaki (JPN) / Naho Sato (JPN) beat Zuzanna Pawlikowska (POL) / Tiantsoa Sarah Rakotomanga Rajaonah (FRA) 7-6(5),  6-2;  Riya Bhatia (IND) / Zeel Desai (IND) beat 4) Hiroko Kuwata (JPN) / Sahaja Yamalapalli (IND) 6-4, 6(2)-7 10-5; 2) Shrivalli Bhamidipaty (IND) / Zhibek Kulambayeva (KAZ) beat Thasaporn Naklo (THA) / Bunyawi Thamchaiwat (THA) 7-5, 6-4.

Semi-Finals: 3) Kanako Morisaki (JPN) / Naho Sato (JPN) beat 1) Ankita Raina (IND) / Prarthana G Thombare (IND) 6-2, 6-3;  Riya Bhatia (IND) / Zeel Desai (IND) beat 2) Shrivalli Bhamidipaty (IND) / Zhibek Kulambayeva (KAZ) 6-3, 3-6, 10-5.

Photo Riya Zeel: The unseeded pair of Riya Bhatia (Right) and Zeel Desai continued their giant killing act to enter the Women’s Doubles final