Sahaja loses to Patcharin, India concede unassailable 0-2 lead to Thailand in BJK Cup

NEW DELHI: Sahaja Yamalapalli went down fighting to Patcharin Cheapchandej in a three-setter as hosts India conceded an unassailable 0-2 lead to Thailand in their rain-hit opening Asia/Oceania Group I tie of the Billie Jean King Cup here on Wednesday.

A lot was riding on world No. 384 Sahaja as she resumed the match after it was halted due to rain on Tuesday evening.

However, the 25-year-old could not keep India in the hunt, losing 4-6, 6-1, 4-6 to Patcharin, ranked 449, in a match that lasted two hours and 25 minutes.

Resuming at 3-4 in the decider, Sahaja sent a forehand wide as Patcharin held serve to move 5-3 ahead.

The Indian then held her serve after a Patcharin backhand slice found the net, narrowing the gap to 4-5.

With the match on knife's edge, Sahaja produced some exceptional groundstrokes, dominating baseline exchanges. She even earned a break point when the Thai hit long.

However, she faltered at the crucial juncture, sending both a forehand and a backhand long to hand the advantage back. A miscued return on the next point ended her resistance.

On Tuesday, debutant Vaishnavi Adkar had cracked under pressure, committing a flurry of unforced errors in a 1-6, 3-6 loss to Aunchisa Chanta.

In the inconsequential doubles match, Rutuja Bhosale and Ankita Raina are playing against Thasaporn Naklo and Peangtarn Plipuech. India will face New Zealand in their second match later in the day.