Barring a brief period midway through the match, India’s Sahaja Yamalapalli was otherwise dominant in her first-round win over Britain’s Yuriko Lily Miyazaki in the $100,000 KPB Trust Women’s Open at the KSLTA courts here on Tuesday.

The India No. 2 impressed with her shot-making en route to a 6-3, 3-6, 6-0 win in a match lasting two hours and 14 minutes. Sahaja next takes on Russian Maria Timofeeva, who had an easier passage in her opener as Brenda Fruhvirtova retired with a back injury when down 3-4 in the first set.

A little later, India No. 1 Ankita Raina, a trifle wobbly, came through 7-6 (7-2), 7-6 (7-4) against qualifier Daria Kudashova of Russia. The seasoned campaigner, who felt a little uneasy on court and even called a trainer when up 4-0 in the second set, regrouped before much damage could be done.

“I was trying to find my rhythm and wasn't feeling very great out there, but I'm glad I pulled it off,” said Ankita, who takes on top-seeded Tatjana Maria next. The German ace survived a scare before overcoming qualifier Petra Marcinko 6-4, 7-5.

The other three Indian wildcards in the fray – Vaidehee Chaudhari, Shrivalli Rashmikaa Bhamidipaty and lucky loser Riya Bhatia – bowed out without a whimper.

Sahaja, who took the court in the morning, began with a bang. The world No. 315 broke Miyazaki in the second game, a brilliant backhand return of serve giving the Indian a 2-0 lead. But a couple of errors in the third game allowed her rival to break right back.

However, Sahaja quickly began to take charge and dictate the points with her aggressive brand from the baseline. She broke her rival in the eighth game and then served out the set in the next. But for some strange reason, she took her foot off the pedal and gave Miyazaki a look-in.  

The Englishwoman, ranked nearly 140 places above the Indian at No. 182, grabbed the chances that came her way to force the decider. Sahaja took a toilet break and returned with her guns blazing, hitting winners off both flanks at will to reel off six games in a row and set up a meeting with Timofeeva, ranked No. 134 in the world.

“I’m happy overall with the way I played,” said Sahaja. “I played my natural game after the loss of the second set and that gave me the result,” said Sahaja.

The country’s biggest ITF tournament is sponsored by KPB Family Trust, Dafa News, Kempegowda International Airport Bengaluru, Oriental Lotus, MSIL and Vaia Climate.

Singles results (Round 1, prefix denotes seeding, Indians unless mentioned): Sahaja Yamalapalli bt Yuriko Lily Miyazaki (GBR) 6-3, 3-6, 6-0; Ankita Raina bt Daria Kudashova (Rus) 7-6 (7-2), 7-6 (7-4); 1-Tatjana Maria (Ger) bt Petra Marcinko (Cro) 6-4, 7-5; 4-Maria Timofeeva (Rus) bt Brenda Fruhvirtova (Cze) 4-3 (retd.); Iryna Shymanovich (Blr) bt Priska Madelyn Nugroho (Ina) 4-6, 7-5, 6-3; Kathinka von Diechmann (Lie) bt Simona Waltert (Sui) 6-1, 3-6, 6-4; 8-Sara Bejlek (Cze) bt Shrivalli Rashmikaa Bhamidipaty 6-0, 6-0.

3-Darja Semenistaja (Lat) bt Vaidehee Chaudhari 6-2, 6-2; Laniana Tararudee (Tha) bt 6-Mananchaya Sawangkaew (Tha) 6-4, 6-0; 5-Alexandra Eala (Phi) bt Arianne Hartono (Ned) 6-2, 6-1; Linda Fruhvirtova (Cze) bt Laura Pigossi (Bra) 6-2, 7-6 (7-5); 2-Rebecca Marino (Can) bt Riya Bhatia 6-1, 6-0; Dalila Jakupovic (Slo) bt Elena Pridankina (Rus) 7-6 (7-4), 3-6, 6-3l 7-Leolia Jeanjean (Fra) bt Tina Nadine Smith (Aus) 6-3, 7-6 (7-3).