Bengaluru, Feb. 20 -- "Pulling off such wins against higher-ranked opponents tells me that I do belong here" - that powerful declaration from India's Vaishnavi Adkar became the news peg of the day as she produced a career-defining performance to reach the semifinals of the W100 Bengaluru.
Adkar stunned fourth-seeded Australian Taylah Preston 6-3, 1-6, 6-4 in a gripping one-hour, 33-minute quarterfinal, marking the biggest win of her professional career and her maiden semifinal appearance at the W100 level of the Women's World Tennis Tour.
The Indian began with authority, controlling the opening set through sharp serving and intelligent shot construction. She struck two aces, committed just one double fault, and dictated rallies with compo...