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Isha Lakhani pockets title

By Nandakumar Marar

Isha Lakhani, who won the singles title in the ITF women's circuit first leg in Indore.

INDORE May 10. Isha Lakhani's acknowledged control over strokeplay and newly-developed composure was enough to thwart Shruti Dhawan's ambitions in the $ 5000 International Tennis Federation's women's circuit first leg singles final.

Playing well within herself and doing just enough to keep up momentum going, the Mumbai left-hander put on her best behaviour when negating the Chandigarh girl's powerplay on Saturday to record her maiden ITF women's singles title victory.

Isha won 6-3, 6-4 after 70 minutes of action on the Indore Tennis Club hardcourt, taking a huge step forward in projecting herself as a junior-turned-senior worthy of greater respect in the women's ranks.

Except for a phase in the second set when Shruti rode a wave of confidence to claw back from 1-4 down to 4-4, the sixth seed appeared in charge, nosing ahead each time the challenger appeared in mood to narrow the deficit.

The champion received $ 650 and a head start in the ITF women's circuit split over three legs, followed by the Masters. "I knew my time had come and was confident of winning even if the final had gone into the third," said Isha, happy to have won the Indore leg where three of the top four seeds went out before the semifinals.

"Shruti had been playing many matches, that too tough ones in the morning and evenings. It was going to be difficult for her to continue playing at high levels," added the usually vocal sixth seed, keeping temper in check on the big occasion.

Shruti has already topped the fitness stakes by surviving another 100 minutes on court under furnace-like conditions at ITC in the subsequent doubles final, winning a three-setter 2-6, 7-6(4), 6-0 in tandem with Sheetal Goutham.

For the second day in succession, the former has been forced to play both singles and doubles in the same session, punishing her body through 10 sets over two days in temperatures hitting the 40-degree mark at noon when doubles matches were on. It is a phenomenal physical effort by a cheerful 19-year-old, now counting hard-earned dollars ($ 450 as singles runner-up in addition to $ 162.50 share as champion doubles pair).

The opening set in the singles final took a bizarre turn after the first two games, with five service breaks in a row between the third and seventh, each player getting a breakthrough but unable to get more than a toehold in the door. Isha worked hardest in this phase due to a dismal first serve percentage, letting advantage slip away due to errors but escaped punishment after finding Shruti too struggling to get her act together.

A double-fault by her on breakpoint in the third and fifth games made Isha's task easier and the gritty left-hander only grew in confidence, screaming in delight after whipping a brutal crosscourt winner past an out-of-position Shruti on the baseline.

The sixth seed consolidated her position as the final moved into the second set, leading 4-1 up two breaks, keeping her opponent on tenterhooks with by varying length, pace and angle of returns.

Aware of the match slipping away from grasp, the 19-year-old Chandigarh girl shifted gears, passing Isha at the net and drawing instant applause with a forehand down the line winner under pressure in the eighth. It proved to be the final flourish before the flame of resistance in the seventh seed died out, as Isha served out the ninth before notching the seventh break of the match to pocket the set and a cherished title.

Mr. Sunil Seth, General Manager of event sponsor Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) gave away the trophies and cash prizes. Shruti became the highest earner, while the doubles runner-up pair of Liza Pereira and Archana Venkataraman earned $ 87.50 each.

The results: Singles: final: 6-Isha Lakhani bt 7-Shruti Dhawan 6-3, 6-4.

Doubles: final: 1-Shruti/Sheetal Goutham bt 2-Liza Pereira/Archana Venkataraman 2-6, 7-6 (4), 6-0. Semifinal: Liza.P/Archana V bt Sonal Phadke/Ankita Bhambri 6-3, 6-3.

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