Ankita, Karman seal India’s win over Hong Kong in Fed Cup

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New Delhi, February 9: Ankita Raina continued her red-hot form with a fluent win after Karman Kaur Thandi's erratic victory as India blanked Hong Kong 3-0 in the Fed Cup.

Karman struggled to contain her unforced errors but prevailed 6-3 6-4 over Eudice Chong to give India a 1-0 lead in the Asia/Oceania Group I matches.

Up against a lower-ranked opponent, placed a humble 761 in the WTA list, Karman snapped a four-match losing streak.

The last time she won a Fed Cup match was exactly a year back when she travelled to Astana, Kazakhstan.

Ankita, who has impressed with her inspirational performance against higher-ranked players, then overcame Ling Zhang 6-3 6-2 to seal India's first win of the 2018 season.

In the inconsequential doubles, Prarthana Thombare and Pranjala Yadlapalli defeated Kwan Yau Ng and Ching Hu Wu 6-2- 6-4.

The last time India won a tie 3-0 was in February 2016, against Kazakhstan in Thailand.

On Saturday (February 10), India will play Chinese Taipei, the fourth- placed team in Pool B in the relegation Play-off. The winner will remain in Group I and the loser will be relegated to Group II.

Aditya Sachdeva, who has coached Karman from her childhood but has not worked consistently since she was training away, agreed that she needs to work on the mental part of her game.

"She needs to play bigger points better. At 15-30 or 15- 140 when you can hit the opponent psychologically she gives away free points. It comes with," Sachdeva, who has again started working with Karman, told PTI.