Published: June 1, 2026 at 8:08 pm
India’s No.1 tennis player Sahaja Yamalapalli finished runners-up at the ITF 35K women’s tennis tournament at Wichita, Kansas, USA. In the final, Sahaja went down to Reese Brantmeler of the USA.
In a gripping first set, Sahaja kept pace with her American opponent and matched her stroke for stroke. It turned out to be a closely fought affair, but the American girl managed to serve out the set at 6-4. Losing the set seems to have had a detrimental effect on Sahaja, who threw in the towel in the second set and lost the final. Sahaja went down 0-6.
Sahaja pulls off a thriller in semifinals
In the semifinal against Yekaterina Dmitrichenko of Kazakhstan, Sahaja came from a set down to pull off a thrilling three-set win. Yekaterina began strongly as she won the first set 6-4 but Sahaja pulled up her socks in time. She took the second set at 6-4 and won the tightly contested third set at 7-5.
In the quarterfinals, Sahaja defeated Russian Ekaterina Khayrutdlnova in straight sets. The Indian won 6-2, 6-2.
Sahaja, in the prequarterfinals, defeated Nigeria’s Oylnlomo Quadre 7-5, 6-1. In the first round, Sahaja had got past Victoria Osuigwe of the USA 6-4, 6-4.
Results (finals): Sahaja lost to Reese Brantmeler (USA) 4-6, 0-6.
Semifinals: Sahaja beat Yekaterina Dmitrichenko (KAZ) 4-6, 6-4, 7-5.
Quarterfinals: Sahaja beat Ekaterina Khayrutdlnova (RUS) 6-2, 6-2.
Pre-quarterfinals: Sahaja beat Oylnlomo Quadre (NGR) 7-5, 6-1.
1st round: Sahaja beat Victoria Osuigwe (USA) 6-4, 6-4.
