India beat Mongolia 3-0 to return to winning ways in Billie Jean King Cup
India returned to winning ways with a dominant 3-0 victory over Mongolia in the Billie Jean King Cup. Zeel Desai and Sahaja Yamalapalli won their singles comfortably, while the doubles pair completed a comprehensive team performance
Hyderabad: Team India dropped only one game collectively as they returned to winning ways resoundingly with a 3-0 win against Mongolia in the Billie Jean King Cup at the Delhi Lawn Tennis Association Complex on Friday.
Hosting the Group I – Asia/Oceania fixtures, India have lost two and won two of their matches so far and will conclude their campaign against Korea Republic on Saturday.
With Zeel Desai replacing Vaishnavi Adkar for the first singles rubber, Team India served bagels all around on matchday 4, with Desai and Sahaja Yamalapalli of Hyderabad both winning by identical 6-0, 6-0 scorelines. Adkar instead partnered Rutuja Bhosale in the doubles, which the pair won 6-1, 6-0 to complete the rout.
In the first-ever meeting between the two nations, Desai set the tone with a clinical performance, dismantling Anu-Vjin Gantor 6-0, 6-0 in just 37 minutes, barely giving her opponent a chance as she dominated from the baseline and controlled proceedings throughout. Yamalapalli followed with an equally commanding display, overwhelming Jargal Altansarnai 6-0, 6-0.
India’s dominance extended into the doubles, where Adkar and Bhosale completed the rout with a 6-1, 6-0 win over Khongorzul Aldarkhishig and Jargal Altansarnai. The Indian pair combined seamlessly, asserting control early and never allowing their opponents to settle, capping off a near-flawless outing for the hosts.
Elsewhere, Korea Republic faced Indonesia in a clash between the top two sides, with the head-to-head evenly poised at 5-5. Korea took the early lead as Dayeon Back continued her unbeaten run in the competition, edging Priska Madelyn Nugroho 7-5, 3-6, 6-2, with the remaining matches yet to be played.
Thailand, meanwhile, were on course for victory against New Zealand, leading 1-0 at the time of writing despite trailing 3-5 in their head-to-head. Anchisa Chanta put them ahead with a 6-2, 6-3 win over Aishi Das. In the second singles, Patcharin Cheapchandej and Valentina Ivanov were locked in a decider, with the Thai player leading 6-2, 3-6, 4-0 after securing two breaks of serve.
All six teams continue to compete in a round-robin format through Saturday, with the top two nations advancing to the next stage.
Indian team result: India bt Mongolia 3-0 (Zeel Desai bt Anu-Vjin Gantor 6-0, 6-0; Sahaja Yamalapalli bt Jargal Altansarnai 6-0, 6-0; Vaishnavi Adkar/Rutuja Bhosale bt Khongorzul Aldarkhishig/Jargal Altansarnai 6-1, 6-0).
