Fed Cup: Ankita helps India draw level against China (Lead)

New Delhi Feb 7 (IANS) Ankita Raina defeated Lin Zhu in straight sets to help India draw level at 1-1 in their Federation Cup tennis tie against China here on Wednesday.

Ankita dominated her opponent to carve out a 6-3 6-2 win.

Ankita dominated right from the start and broke Lin s first service game in the opening set. She held serve throughout to take the set.

Ankita broke first two service games in the second set to open up a 3-0 lead.

Zhu broke back in the next game to reduce the gap. But Ankita earned yet another break in the very next game to take her lead to 4-1.

The Chinese could not recover from there as Ankita took a comfortable win.

Earlier Karman Kaur Thandi went down in straight line sets to Wang Yafan as India conceded a 0-1 lead.

The 19-year-old Thandi was no match for her opponent going down 2-6 2-6 in a little more than an hour.

The difference in class between the two players was evident right from the start. Wang used her superior technique and placement to break Thandi s serve twice in the first set.

Thandi committed too many unforced errors and double faults. As a result she could not take advantage of her superior height and power.

The Indian had a powerful serve but poor accuracy cost her dearly.

Wang had not totally settled down in the first game but still managed to break Thandi s serve. She did not look back from there and continued to dominate taking the opening set easily.

Wang started the second set on a positive note as well breaking Thandi s serve in the first game.

Wang broke Thandi s serve again in the fifth game to take a commanding 4-1 lead in the second set.

Thandi did manage to go close to a break point off Wang s serve in the next game but could not make it count.

Wang easily held her next service game to clinch the match.

--IANS
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