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- Vaishnavi Adkar Stuns Fourth Seed Preston In Thrilling Three-setter To Reach Kpb Trust Itf Women’s Open W100 Bengaluru 2026 Semis
Published on 20 February, 2026 12.00am IST
India’s Vaishnavi Adkar scripted the biggest win of her young career at the KPB Trust ITF Women’s Open W100 Bengaluru 2026 today, stunning world No.148 and fourth seed Taylah Preston 6-3, 1-6, 6-4 in a pulsating quarterfinal at the S.M. Krishna Tennis Stadium in Bengaluru to march into the semifinals.
The twenty-one-year-old displayed fearless baseline tennis and impressive composure under pressure to overcome the higher-ranked Australian in a contest that swung dramatically across three sets.
The match began on a tense note as Adkar was broken in the very first game. However, she responded immediately, breaking straight back to settle her nerves. Finding her rhythm from the back of the court, she broke Preston again in the sixth game with a series of clean baseline winners to move 4-2 ahead. Although Preston reduced the deficit to 4-3 with a break of her own, Adkar continued to dictate rallies and confidently closed out the opening set 6-3.
Preston raised her level significantly in the second set, applying heavy service pressure and racing to a 3-0 lead as Adkar’s accuracy from the baseline dipped. The Australian surged to 5-1 and wrapped up the set 6-1 after negotiating a tight service game, forcing a decider.
In the final set, a few unforced errors from Adkar handed Preston an early break. But the Indian fought back strongly, holding comfortably before striking a couple of backhand winners to break and level at 3-3. Capitalising on a pair of double faults from Preston, Adkar broke again for a 5-3 lead. Though Preston broke back, Adkar held her nerve in the tenth game, earning three match points and sealing victory when a long backhand from the Australian sailed wide.
She is now set to face second seed Lanlana Tararudee of Thailand, who advanced to the semifinals with a straightforward 6-1, 6-3 win against Elena Pridankina. In another singles quarterfinal, third seed Hanne Vandewinkel of Belgium defeated Fangran Tian of China 6-2, 6-2 to book her place in the last four. Polina Iatcenko joined her by pulling off an 6-2, 7-5 upset over first seed Talia Gibson.
Meanwhile, in the doubles, third seeds Priska Madelyn Nugroho and India’s Ankita Raina advanced to the final after defeating Anastasia Kulikova of Finland and Kristiana Sidorova in a hard-fought three-set encounter. Nugroho and Raina claimed the opening set 6-2 with strong net play and sharp returns. Kulikova and Sidorova responded by taking the second set 6-3 to level the match, but the third seeds regained control in the deciding match tie-break, closing it out 10-5.
In the other doubles semifinal, Japan’s Misaki Matsuda and Eri Shimizu defeated second seeds Jasmijn Gimbrere of the Netherlands and India’s Prarthana G Thombare 6-2, 6-4 to secure their place in the final.
Results:
Singles Quarter-final:
Vaishnavi Adkar (IND) bt 4-Taylah Preston (AUS) 6-3, 1-6, 6-4; 2-Lanlana Tararudee (THA) bt Elena Pridankina 6-1, 6-3; 3- Hanne Vandewinkel (BEL) bt Fangran Tian (CHN) 6-2, 6-2; 5-Polina Iatcenko bt 1- Talia Gibson (AUS) 6-2, 7-5.
Doubles Semi-final:
3-Priska Madelyn Nugroho (INA) / Ankita Raina (IND) bt Anastasia Kulikova (FIN) / Kristiana Sidorova 6-2, 3-6, 10-5; Misaki Matsuda/ Eri Shimizu (JPN) bt 2- Jasmijn Gimbrere (NED)/ Prarthana G Thombare (IND) 6-2, 6-4.
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