PTI 
  
Mumbai, Mar 20: Qualifiers enjoyed a rewarding day as Bhambri sisters - Ankita and Sanaa - were eliminated in the first round of the ITF Women's USD 25,000 Tennis Tournament at the Kalina University Campus, Santacruz here.

American Amber Liu, a qualifier, did extremely well to by pulling off 7-6 (7-5), 4-6, 6-0 victory against 530-ranked Sanaa.

Ankita, ranked 437, initially looked good against qualifier Sonal Phadke but sprained her ankle that aggravated an earlier injury sustained during practice which forced her to concede the tie.

Qualifier Jeong-A Cho of Korea continued her superiority over India's lucky loser Krushmi Chheda gaining a comfortable 6-2, 6-2 first round win.

They had met in the final qualifying round yesterday where Cho had defeated the Indian in straight sets.

Martina Caciotti of Italy completed a memorable day for the qualifiers with a hard fought 6-7 (1), 7-6 (6), 6-3 win over compatriot Nicole Clerico.

However, Misa Kinoshita of Japan was the odd one among qualifiers as she lost to unseeded Rushmi Chakravarthi, who launched her campaign with a fluent 6-0, 6-2 win.

Results (First Round): Jeong-A Cho (Kor) bt Krushmi Chheda (Ind) 6-2, 6-2; Rushmi Chakravarthi (Ind) bt Misa Kinoshita (Jpn) 6-0, 6-2; Wan-Ting Liu (Chn) bt Yi Chen (Tpe) 6-4, 4-6, 6-3; Sonal Phadke (Ind) bt Ankita Bhambri (Ind) 3-2, retd; Amber Liu (US) bt Sanaa Bhambri (Ind) 7-6(5), 4-6, 6-0; Martina Caciotti (Ita) bt Nicole Clerico (Ita) 6-7(1), 7-6(6), 6-3.