New Delhi, April 9 – Vaishnavi Adkar fought valiantly, but ultimately lost to Sahaja Yamalapalli, as India suffered a 0-3 defeat to Indonesia in their third match of the Asia/Oceania Group I tie, jeopardizing their chances of advancing to the Billie Jean King Cup playoffs.
The 21-year-old Vaishnavi, ranked 391 in the world, played with determination but couldn't overcome Priska Madelyn Nugroho (ranked 419), losing 7-6 (3) 6-7 (3) 3-6 in the first singles match, which lasted three hours and six minutes at the DLTA stadium.
It was always going to be a difficult task for Sahaja to beat Janice Tjen, who won 2-6 1-6.
In doubles, Ankita Raina and Rutuja Bhosale fought hard but lost 3-6 6-7 (4) to Janice Tjen and Aldila Sutjiadi, the 2022 Asian Games bronze medallists, as Indonesia completed a 3-0 victory.
India had previously won 3-0 against New Zealand after losing 1-2 to Thailand in their first tie on Wednesday.
Vaishnavi vs. Priska
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Vaishnavi delivered a tenacious performance, taking the first set in a closely contested match marked by frequent momentum shifts, extended baseline rallies, and multiple service breaks. She demonstrated intent at the net and varied her game effectively, using aggressive forehands to stay competitive.
However, she struggled to maintain her early advantage. Despite leading 40-15 in the opening game, she lost her serve as Priska countered with powerful shots. Trailing 0-2, Vaishnavi broke back in the fourth game to level at 2-2.
A series of breaks followed, with neither player able to dominate for long. Vaishnavi and Priska made inconsistent shot selections and committed unforced errors, allowing the other to gain an advantage. Vaishnavi ultimately won the tie-break 7-3 with improved control and shot-making.
The second set saw Vaishnavi struggle from the start, falling 0-2 after an early break. She managed to level at 2-2 and later took the lead with aggressive play, including a series of strong forehand winners.
Priska briefly took a medical timeout while trailing 2-3, but returned to level at 4-4 after breaking Vaishnavi. Vaishnavi again edged ahead and served for the match at 5-4, but failed to close it out. The set eventually went into a tie-break, where Priska raised her level to draw parity.
In the decider, the Indian raced to a 2-0 lead before Priska clawed back, breaking twice to go 4-2 up. Despite signs of physical discomfort, the Indonesian maintained composure, using precise placement and effective net play.
Both players held serve to 5-3 before Priska sealed the match by breaking Vaishnavi in the final game.
"It was a tough match today, a very long one. Obviously, it didn't go our way. Yes, it's disappointing not to win," Vaishnavi told reporters later.
"The important thing was to keep fighting until the very last point. And I think I put up a good fight, even though it didn't go my way. I'm proud of the effort."
Sahaja vs. Janice
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Sahaja showed early resistance, saving two break points before Janice produced a superb down-the-line winner to secure the break.
The Indonesian, who won the Chennai Open last year, handed the advantage back with a double fault and a long return as Sahaja capitalized to level at 1-1.
The Indian again came under pressure in the third game, conceding three break points. Though she saved two, Janice broke to go 2-1 up and soon took control with a mix of rasping forehands and deep slices.
A comfortable hold extended the lead to 3-1.
Sahaja struggled to match Janice's pace and power but managed to hold serve once as her opponent miscued a couple of shots. Janice, however, remained dominant and surged to 5-2 before sealing the opening set with successive overhead winners.
The second set followed a similar pattern, with Sahaja's errors allowing Janice to break early and move 2-0 ahead. Although Sahaja held once to reduce the margin, Janice continued to dictate play with strong serves and aggressive returns.
The Indonesian raced to 5-1 after another break and wrapped up the contest after breaking the Indian again with a forehand winner, sealing a comprehensive victory.
Korea and Indonesia are currently at the top of the table with three wins each, followed by Thailand and India.
Only the top two teams will progress to the playoffs, while the bottom two sides will be relegated to Group II for 2027.