Thailand Open Super 500: Unnati Hooda leads three Indian women’s singles players into R16; Lakshya Sen’s season of woes continues with another first-round exit
Thamonwan Nithiittikrai’s reactions just a few minutes apart were awfully similar as she fell down on the court at the end of a rally but Unnati Hooda ended up having the last laugh. First at 19-20, with Unnati facing a match point, Nithiittikrai hit a forehand clear that she thought fell inside the backline but as Unnati let the shuttle drop, the Thai player couldn’t see the umpire’s outstretched hands signalling it was wide. Unnati, having survived two match points, squandered one of her own before eventually prevailing 21-14, 18-21, 23-21 in exactly one hour. This time again Nithiittikrai fell on her knees, but in disappointment at having come close to a win only to see the Indian teenager clinch a thriller in the opening round of the Thailand Open Super 500 in Bangkok on Wednesday.
The...