Basil Khuma, Sathwika Sama lose in French Open wildcard tournament

NEW DELHI: Indian tennis players Basil Khuma and Sathwika Sama could not make it to the junior French Open singles main draw following defeat in the Rendez-Vous, a tournament which offered wild card entry to the prestigious Clay Court Grand Slam event.

Competing in the boys event, 17-year-old Basil defeated China's Chengze Lyu 6-3 6-4 but lost to Brazil's Gabriel Decamps 2-6 2-6. He needed to win both the matches to make it to the main draw. Decamps won the wild card.

In the girls event, Sathwika lost both her matches but not before putting up a valiant fight. She lost 6-2 6-7(3) 3-6 to Brazil's Maria-Clara Silva and then 6-1 4-6 5-7 to China's Shuyue Ma, who eventually won the wild card.

Basil and Sathwika had emerged winners in the Indian leg of Rendez-Vous. National winners from India, Brazil and China competed in the finale in Paris, yesterday.