Mumbai Open | Teichmann digs deep to get past a dogged Hartono

Former World No. 21 Jil Teichmann, now ranked 117th, defeated a determined Arianne Hartono 6-7(4), 6-3, 6-3 at the L&T Mumbai Open WTA 125, held at the Cricket Club of India here on Wednesday.

Hartono started well, using her powerful forehands and strong serves to take the opening game. The Swiss responded with a solid service game to make it 1-1.

However, the Dutch player quickly regained control, breaking Teichmann and building a 4-1 lead.

Teichmann struggled with her rhythm initially and made a few errors, but managed to pull herself together, winning a game with a perfect ace and then another with a backhand slice. She clawed her way back to level 4-4. Despite the Swiss player’s fightback, Hartono won the first set in the tie-break.

In the second set, Teichmann regained her composure and started to play more aggressively. She moved well across the court and took a 4-2 lead in no time.

With forehand volleys, solid serves, and precise returns, Teichmann extended her advantage to 5-2, eventually taking the set 6-3.

She carried the momentum into the decider, quickly racing to a 5-1 lead with a combination of deft backhand slices and solid groundstrokes. Though the Dutch player won two straight games, the Swiss sealed the match in the ninth with a forehand volley.

The results (first round):

Singles: Jil Teichmann bt Arianne Hartono 6-7(4), 6-3, 6-3.

Doubles: Shrivalli Bhamidipaty & Riya Bhatia bt Kyoko Okamura & Mai Hontama 5-7, 6-2, [10-7].

Prarthana Thombare & Arianne Hartono bt Naho Sato & Peangtarn Plipuech 6-2, 6-3.

Ankita Raina & Dalila Jakupovic lost to Oksana Kalashnikova & Nao Hibino 7-6(4), 6-2.