Hesse(Eds: Updating with latest result)Mumbai, Nov 24 (PTI) Ankita Raina today went downfighting to France's Amandine Hesse in straight sets in thesingles quarter-finals to signal the end of IndiaÂ’s challengein the USD 1,25,000 L&T Mumbai Open here.
Ankita, the world no. 293, fought tooth and nailagainst the higher ranked (265) Hesse but succumbed after aprotracted battle that lasted 1 hour, 48 minutes with theFrench woman winning 6-3, 7-6 (4).
Hesse would meet top seed Aryna Sabalenka, ranked 96,in the semi-final following the latter's 6-4, 6-2 victory overthe fifth-seeded Naomi Broady of Britain.
Earlier, Uzbekistan's unheralded Sabina Sharipovacaused a major upset by rallying from a set behind to oustthird seed Yanina Wickmayer of Belgium and enter the semis.
Sharipova, ranked 196 and four inches shorter than hersix-foot tall rival who is a former world no. 12 player, wonthe one hour, 56-minute match 3-6 6-4 6-2 to earn a shot atSlovenia's Dalila Jakupovic in the semi-finals of the WTAseries event tomorrow.
Jakupovic beat back the challenge of qualifier AlizeZim of France in straight sets, 6-3 6-1 in just under an hourin an earlier quarter-final at the Cricket Club of IndiaÂ’scourts.
The match between Ankita and Hesse saw both the womenhitting with power from the baseline.
Ankita had an early break in both sets but could notcapitalise on it as she was broken back immediately.
The Indian was broken thrice in the first set thatlasted 42 minutes and the two women traded breaks from 1-1till the score was 4-all in the second set before Hessemanaged to hold her serve.
With Ankita also managing to hold her serve in thenext game before both women held serves again, tie breaker wasenforced at 6-all in which Hesse took the lead with a minibreak after 3-all.
The mini break was retrieved by Ankita but thereaftershe fell behind 4-6 to give Hesse two match-points and theFrench woman finally clinched the set and the match whenAnkita hit her forehand wide.
Earlier, Sharipova easily lost the opening set againsther 115th-ranked Belgian rival but picked up the threads andcreated a huge upset.
After winning the second set to restore parity,Sharipova traded breaks with her rival in the first two gamesof the decider before breaking her rivalÂ’s serve in the thirdto go 2-1 up.
The 23-year-old Uzbek player had to save two break-points in the next game to hold her serve for a 3-1 leadand then broke WickmeyerÂ’s serve again to take a 5-2 lead.
She held her serve comfortably to come out a deservingwinner against the 28-year-old Belgian who was a top-30 playerfor four years running between 2009 and 2012 and a semi-finalist at the US Open in 2009.
Meanwhile, India's lukewarm challenge in the doublescame to an end when Karman Thandi and Pranjala Yadlapalli wentdown in straight sets to second seeds Dalila Jakupovic ofSlovenia and Irina Khromacheva of Russia late last night.
Results: Singles (Quarter finals): DalilaJakupovic (SLO) bt Q-Alize Lim (FRA) 6-3 6-1; Sabina Sharipova(UZB) bt 3-Yanina Wickmayer (BEL) 3-6, 6-4, 6-2; AmandineHesse (FRA) bt Ankita Raina (IND) 6-3, 7-6(4).
Doubles (quarter-finals): 2-Dalila Jakupovic (SLO)/IrinaKhromacheva (RUS) bt Karman Thandi/Pranjala Yadlapalli (IND)6-4, 6-2; 4-Julia Glushko (ISR)/Priscilla Hon (AUS) bt JunriNamigata (JPN)/Peangtarn Plipuech (THA) 7-6(5), 6-3;Q-Beatrice Gumulya (INA)/Ana Veselinovic (MNE) bt 1-OksanaKalashnikova (GEO)/Veronika Kudermetova (RUS) 6-0, 6-1;Victoria Rodriguez (MEX)/Bibiane Schoofs (NED) bt Eva Wacanno(NED)/Yanina Wickmayer (BEL) 6-4, 7-6(4). PTI SSRRSY.
This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.