Trumps Thasaporn Naklo in two straight sets

Priska Madelyn Nugroho of Indonesia quelled the spirited challenge of Thailand’s Thasaporn Naklo in two straight sets 6-2, 7-6(3) to clinch the 11th International Women's Tennis Championship (NAVI MUMBAI Open ITF W50 Championship) Singles title at the Ganesh Naik Tennis Complex in Vashi, Navi Mumbai.

The engrossing all Asian final which lasted one hour and 37 minutes was marked with long crisp rallies, deft touches, delicate net play and classic winners on either side of the hard court by both the players who shared great camaraderie both on and off the playing arena.

The eventful tie saw eighth seed Priska break unseeded Thasaporn opening serve with a double breakpoint but failed to hold on to her serve too. The 21-year old Indonesian soon stamped her dominance by extending the lead to 5-1 following two more service breaks. Unfazed the 23-year old Thai soon fought back to reduce the deficit by not only holding her serve, and later gave a tough time to her rival by enforcing dues twice in the face of four set points. The Indonesian ranked no. 2 Priska, in the end, won the opening set 6-2.  

The second set too witnessed intense action before being decided in tie-break at the back of a record eight serve breaks at the end of 12 games, after Thailand no.3 Thasaporn had taken a 2-0 lead. The fleet footed Priska who won four games in a row, thereafter found the going tough and lost her next three serve games after being 6-5 ahead, with one match point in hand.

In the ensuing tie break Priska consolidated on her 3-0 early lead which soon became 5-2 as WTA ranked 476 Thasaporn made some uncharacteristic unforced errors at crucial junctures under pressure. Priska who is ranked 265 by WTA in the end wrapped up the tie-break 7-3 by breaking her opponent serve, and went on to win the set 7-6 and with it the grand finale 2-0 amidst huge applause from hundreds of tennis enthusiast from all walks of life including the Chief Guest and Maharashtra newly appointed  Forest Minister Ganesh Naik

Having won the opening set, runner-up Thasaporn Naklo who earlier qualified for the last eight stage at the expense of tournament’s top seed Ankita Raina of India (Retired due to stomach cramps), and went on to defeat 2023 NCAA Singles winner Fangran Tian from China in three hard fought set in the semi-final, post the match said, “Had a great run in the tourney while playing against some of the best players. Gave my best and felt that things would have been different if I had won the second set tie-break. However, credit to my opponent Priska who was the better player on the day”.

Champion Priska Madelyn Nugroho who had shocked fourth seed Zhibek Kulambayeva from Kazakhstan in two straight sets in quarters and had an upper hand against the tall Russian Ekaterina Reyngold in the semis having won the opening set easily before the later retired due to injury midway in the second set post the final while speaking exclusively to Newsband said, “Happy to be back at Navi Mumbai after a gap of two years and winning the Singles title, after having ended Runner’s-up in the 9^th edition of the W25 Navi Mumbai, after having won the Doubles title with my Russian partner Ekaterina Yashina then. Would like to congratulate the Tournament organiser, sponsors, ITF Supervisor, Chair Umpires, NMSA staff for the successful conduct of the tournament. Having known my opponent (Thasaporn Naklo) who incidentally is a very good friend too since juniors, we were playing for the first time against each other at the Pro level and that too in a final, which I believe was a closely contested one. The consistency of winning crucial points in the game proved to be the difference between two of us”

Playing after a gap of nine months after recovering from wrist injury suffered way back in 2023, at the back of a successful 2022 debut year on the ITF World Tennis Tour where in as a 19-year old teenager Priska won five ITF singles title of the year in the course of six months, including the W25 Solapur in India, her second at W25 level, following victory on Australian soil at W25 Traralgon in mid-November. The same came at the back of her  great run of making it to four straight finals – in which she collected three titles – at W15 events in Monastir in July and August.

“Had to grind my way back into the ITF World Tennis Tour following the injury by playing lower level tournaments as my rankings had dropped to sub 1000 level. With guidance of my Indonesian Coach Tos Puengrassamee and support of Physical Trainer Apiwut Chenrat managed to recoup and work my way through. Happy to sign off 2024 with my third Single ITF title after having won the two W15 events in Hong Kong and Xiamen in June and August early this year. Will be back in India early next year (2025) to participate in the W50 New Delhi 2025 Tennis Tournament in a bid to improve my WTA ranking,” added Priska Madelyn Nugroho who aspires to play in the Wimbledon Grand Slam one day soon.

Chief Guest and President of NMSA Ganesh Naik in his speech during the Prize Distribution ceremony congratulated both the Asian finalists for an excellent final match,  that was attended by Guest of Honours Bharat Kalaskar (Dy. Commissioner Road Safety) and Ravindra Singh (DGM Indian Bank), Leena Nageshwar (Chief of Umpires), Supreeth Kadavegre (Chair Umpire), NMSA Committee Members of the likes of Dr. S R Phadnis (Hon. Gen. Secretary), Dattu B Patil & Dinesh Kanani (Hon. Jt. Secretaries), Vijay S. Patil (Tournament Chairman), Vijay R Patil, Prakash Srinivasan, Ashok Patil, Kavita Ganguly & Shilpa Vilas Kenia along with Adv, Nilesh Bhojane & Rajendra Pansare (Both Sub Tennis Committee Members), Vasant Tajane (Ex ACP and NMSA Working Secretary), Sanjay Dhumal (Senior PI, Vashi) among others.

“The Navi Mumbai Open ITF W50 Championship, offering a total prize money of USD 40K has completed 11 years of existence and is being held to provide opportunities for talented players across the world to make a mark at the global stage. Tournaments like these play a key role in uniting the world, which unfortunately is being dragged towards third World War due to unrest in the Middle East and Europe This time the annual tournament witnessed participation from 57 players from 15 countries across the world including 30 from India itself. The absence of many European players due to security concerns however was felt here too. Hope things change next time around. Congratulations to Priska Nugroho coming up trumps in the Women Singles final and Thasaporn Naklo being a worthy runner’s up,” said Chief Guest Ganesh Naik, State Forest Minister.

Singles

Pre-Quarter Finals: Thasaporn Naklo (THA) beat  1) Ankita Raina (IND) 6-2, 3-0 (Retd); (Q) Zuzanna Pawlikowska (POL) beat  2) Shrivalli Rashmikaa Bhamidipaty 3-6, 6-1, 6-3; Fangran Tian (CHN) beat  3) Naho Sato (JPN) 2-6, 6-0, 6-2; 3) Thasaporn Naklo (THA) 6-2, 0-6, 6-2; (Q) Punnin Kovapitukted (THA) beat   Ekaterina Yashina (RUS) 6-1, 6-2; 8) Priska Madelyn Nugroho (INA) beat  (WC) Riya Bhatia 6-0, 6-4; 4) Zhibek Kulambayeva (KAZ) beat  (Q) Anri Nagata (JPN)  6-4, 7-5; Ekaterina Reyngold (RUS) beat  Vaishnavi Adkar (IND) 6-4, 6-2; 2) Sahaja Yamalapalli (IND) beat  (Q) Eva Garkusha 6-2,6-2.

 Quarter Finals: Thasaporn Naklo (THA) beat  (Q) Zuzanna Pawlikowska (POL) 7-5, 7-5; Fangran Tian (CHN) beat  (Q) Punnin Kovapitukted (THA) 6-2, 6-4; 8) Priska Madelyn Nugroho (INA) beat  4) Zhibek Kulambayeva (KAZ) 6-4,6-4; Ekaterina Reyngold (RUS) beat  2) Sahaja Yamalapalli (IND) 7-6(5), 6-3.

Semi Finals: Thasaporn Naklo (THA) beat Fangran Tian (CHN) 6-3, 4-6,6-1; 8) Priska Madelyn Nugroho (INA) beat  Ekaterina Reyngold (RUS) 6-1, 3-1 (Retd)

Final: 8) Priska Madelyn Nugroho (INA) beat Thasaporn Naklo (THA) 6-2, 7-6(3)

Photo Cover: Chief Guest Maharashtra Forest Minister and President of NMSA Ganesh Naik applauds the runner’s-up Thasaporn Naklo (on his Right) and winner Priska Madelyn Nugroho (on his left) in presence of the Guest of Honours and NMSA Committee members

Photo Abover: Champion Priska Madelyn Nugroho (Left) of Indonesia showcased her flair for serve and volley for a winner against Thailand’s Thasaporn Naklo in the Women’s Singles final that was played in front of a packed gallery (Photos by Ashok Dhamija)