India finish fifth
in Junior Fed Cup

The Indians girls continued with their impressive showing to get the better of Hungary 2-1 and finish a creditable fifth in the finals of Junior Fed Cup tennis championships, in La Baule, France.

Ankita Bhambri lost her singles match to Barbora Pocza 6-2, 7-6 (7/3) but Sania Mirza won her singles and then teamed up with Ankita to take the deciding doubles tie 6-2, 6-1.

India had qualified for the finals for the first time.

The title was won by Belarus, with the Czech Republic finishing runners-up.

Ankita did not have a good start against Pocza as she had trouble with her newly-strung racket. She lost the first set 2-6 but fought well in the second using her teammate Kartiki Bhatt's racket.

She was up 6-5 in the second but faltered in the tie-break. She went down 3-7 and lost the tie.

Sania came up with another sterling performance to beat Antonia Xenia Toth 6-7 (7/4), 7-5 and draw India level.

Knowing quite well that she had a tough task on hand, Sania began confidently and raced to a 4-2. But the Hungarian rallied to forge ahead at 5-4 with a set point. However, Sania raised her game at the right time to win the tie-break 7-4.

Sania began aggressively in the second set and raced to a 4-1 lead before again falling behind at 4-5. But she held on to her nerve to prevail at 7-5.

In the doubles tie, Ankita and Sania easily beat Pocza and Toth 6-2, 6-1.

Earlier reports:
India continue good show in Junior Fed Cup
India defeat Korea in Junior Fed Cup
India upset Germany in Junior Fed Cup