The Florida-based Rao, ranked 211 in the world, had a disastrous first set against the 316-ranked Gumulya but recovered to win the next two at Kolkata's Netaji Indoor stadium. The battle of 21-year-olds saw Rao emerging triumphant in her first match win since making it to the third round of the US Open qualifiers in August.
Next up for Rao is a toughie against Britain's Anne Keothavong, who's ranked 144 in the world. The two have never played each other before but Keothavong will be on a high having dispatched 71-ranked Italian Sara Errani 6-4, 6-4 in her opening match.
The $175,000 hardcourt tournament is missing star attraction Sania Mirza after the world no. 27 withdrew at the last minute with a wrist injury.
The Tier III WTA event has one other Indian woman still in the running in the singles with wildcard Tara Iyer taking on seventh seed Italy's Flavia Pennetta (rank 69) in her opening match later today.In the doubles, Iyer in partnership with Canada's Aleksandra Wozniak defeated the Russian pair of Julia Efremova and Ekaterina Ivanova 6-4, 7-5 in the first round.
There was no such luck for the Indian pair of Sanaa Bhambri and Isha Lakhani. The duo fell tamely 6-2, 6-0 to the fourth seeded Italians Errani and Flavia Pennetta.
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