Riya Bhatia’s Impressive Run at ITF W75 Amstetten Ends in Quarterfinals

A Stellar Qualifying Campaign

Bhatia’s journey began in the qualifying rounds, where she displayed dominance and composure. In her first qualifying match, she faced Austria’s Stefanie Auer and delivered a commanding 6-0, 6-0 victory, setting the tone for her campaign. Moving into the final qualifying round, Bhatia took on Rose Marie Nijkamp of the Netherlands (World No. 764). She secured a 7-5, 6-2 win, showcasing her ability to stay focused under pressure and earn her spot in the main draw.

Main Draw Breakthrough

In the main draw, Bhatia continued her momentum with a solid first-round victory over local wildcard Arabella Koller (World No. 548). The Indian qualifier outclassed her Austrian opponent 6-4, 6-2, demonstrating her consistency and tactical prowess on clay. This win set up a thrilling second-round clash against another Austrian, Ekaterina Perelygina (World No. 786).

The second-round match proved to be a rollercoaster. Bhatia dropped the first set 2-6 but showed remarkable resilience, battling back to win the second set 7-5. The deciding set went to a dramatic tiebreak, where Bhatia saved a match point and clinched a 7-6(6) victory, securing her place in the quarterfinals. This hard-fought win highlighted her fighting spirit and ability to perform under pressure, earning praise from fans and observers alike.

Quarterfinal Challenge

In the quarterfinals, Bhatia faced a formidable opponent in 18-year-old Renata Jamrichova, a rising star who won two junior singles Grand Slams in 2024 and is already ranked No. 286 in the world. Despite Bhatia’s valiant effort, Jamrichova’s aggressive play and consistency proved too strong, as she claimed a 6-4, 6-3 victory. While the loss ended Bhatia’s singles run, her performance throughout the tournament was a testament to her growing confidence and competitive edge.

Doubles Success

In addition to her singles achievements, Bhatia also made her mark in doubles alongside Czech partner Michaela Bayerlová. The pair reached the quarterfinals, defeating Austria’s Liel Rothensteiner and Ava Schüller in a thrilling 6-7(5), 6-3, 12-10 match that included a match point saved in the super tiebreak. This result further highlighted Bhatia’s versatility and ability to compete at a high level in both singles and doubles.

A Promising Outlook

Riya Bhatia’s run at the ITF W75 Amstetten is a promising sign for Indian tennis. Formerly ranked No. 2 in India and with a career-high WTA singles ranking of 338 (achieved in March 2020), Bhatia continues to prove her mettle on the ITF circuit. Her ability to qualify for the main draw and defeat higher-ranked players like Koller and Perelygina demonstrates her potential to climb the rankings further. With three ITF singles titles and four doubles titles already under her belt, Bhatia’s experience and determination make her a player to watch in the coming months.

As she reflects on her performance in Amstetten, Bhatia can take pride in her resilience and ability to compete against a strong international field. Her journey at this $60,000 ITF event not only adds valuable ranking points but also boosts her confidence as she continues to chase her goals on the global stage. Indian tennis fans will undoubtedly be cheering for more such performances from Riya in the tournaments to come.

Pictures Credits – Amazing team of W75 Amstetten and photographer Samuel Mattei

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P.S. This article was written by Grok AI