Hyderabad: Manisha Malhotra defeated Jin-Hi-Kim of Korea 7-6 (7-5), 6-4 to qualify for the $ 140,000,WTA Indian Open singles tournament to be inaugurated later on Monday at the Lal Bahadur Indoor Stadium tennis complex.

In a hard fought first set, Manisha overcame a fighting Kim after holding on to her nerves in the tie-breaker.

In the second game the Korean woman hardly put up any resistance as Manisha stormed into the big league.

Manisha had outplayed Ekaeerina Kozhokina of Russia 6-3, 6-2 in the first round and defeated compatriot Isha Lakhani 6-3, 6-3 in the second round to make it to the final round of the qualifiers.

PTI