Sanaa got off to a wobbly start in the second set saving two break points in the second game and then squandering three break points in the next. She broke Sheethal in the fifth game when the later hit a forehand long but dropped her serve in the next game to make it 3-3.

Sanaa then broke Sheethal in the seventh and the ninth game to close out the set and the match.

However, it turned out to be a tough match for Poojashree, who won an ITF tournament at Bangalore last week. After winning the first set against Shlomo, the top seed was trailing 2-5 in the second set but then reeled off five game to notch up a thriller.

'I played Shlomo last week but then she was not serving that well. Today she served very well on crucial points and also came up with some great returns. I had a good last week and I am confident of playing my best,' she said.