Justifying her top billing, India's Manisha Malhotra came from behind to pip fourth-seeded Akgul Amanmuradova of Uzbekistan 2-6, 6-4, 7-6 (12-10) and win the $10,000 ITF-Futures tennis tournament (second-leg) in Mumbai on Saturday.
The Indian ace staged a grand recovery, staving off four match-points in the third set tie-break of the marathon tie which lasted two hours and 25 minutes, to come out trumps.
This was the second final defeat in as many days for the 18-year-old Uzbek, who had lost the doubles final along with her Malaysian partner, Chin-Bee Khoo, to wild cards Ludmila Rozsialova of Czech Republic and Julia Vorobieva of Russia 5-7, 5-7 in one hour 25 minutes on Friday.
Amanmuradova started off in fine fashion today, breaking Manisha, who made as many as three double-faults in the first set, in the third and fifth games to lead 5-2 and then serving out the set at 6-2.
Amanmuradova again broke in the very first game of the second set and held her own to take a 2-0 lead before Manisha, a silver medallist in the Busan Asian Games mixed doubles event, fought back.
After going down 0-2 in the second set, the Indian girl not only held her serve in the third game but also broke her opponent in the fourth game to level the scores at 4-all. Manisha broke again in the seventh game for a 4-3 lead but failed to hold her own in the very next game.
However, she managed the crucial break of the match in the tenth game to win the set 6-4.
A rejuvenated Manisha broke Amanmuradova, who lost her concentration after a spectator cheered the Indian loudly during a long rally, in the sixth game to lead 4-2 but again failed to hold her serve in the next game to nullify the advantage as the set went into tie-breaker.
In the tie-break, the Indian national champion took a slender 2-1 lead before Amanmuradova caught up and took a 5-3 lead. But Manisha drew abreast at 5-all and then at 8-all.
Though, Manisha served two of her nine double-faults of the match in the tie-break, she managed to ward-off four match-points through sheer grit and determination before having a match-point of her own at 10-9 which Amanmuradova saved.
However, the Uzbek girl failed to save the next match-point as Manisha took the set, winning the tie-breaker at 12-10.
Manisha pocketed $1600 and six ITF points while her opponent had to be content with $1000 and four points.
Results (women's singles) final: Manisha Malhotra (Ind) bt Akgul Amanmuradova (Uzb) 2-6, 6-4, 7-6 (12-10).
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