The Hindu : Sport / Tennis : Vikram Reddy takes on Suresh Krishna

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Sep 22, 2007
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Sport - Tennis

Vikram Reddy takes on Suresh Krishna

Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD: Favourite Vikram Reddy and Suresh Krishna advanced to the boys’ singles final of the Vijay Textiles-International Tennis Federation junior circuit tournament, posting facile wins of 6-1, 6-4 and 6-3, 6-2 over Rishabdev R. Raman and Prateek Bhambri respectively at the Sports Authority of Andhra Pradesh (SAAP) complex here on Friday.

Matches on the girls’ side were more keenly contested, running into three sets, as Sonia Dayal subdued Rishika Sunkara 6-3, 5-7, 6-2, while Prerana Bhambri defeated T. Nilaya 7-5, 4-6, 6-2.

Searing serve

The four semifinals were held simultaneously to make up for a rain-delayed start. On court one, Suresh’s searing service helped him hold sway.

A superior first service percentage was one indication in addition to a string of aces and service winners.

Never really tested, his game showed better control too, evident from the advances to the net and the accuracy of his volleys from there.

Prateek didn’t seem quite equal to intercepting Krishna’s ripping serves but on occasion showed that he can pack power of his own too.

Only that he was pushed on the defensive more often, thereby conceding the initiative and subsequently the contest too.

On court three, young Rishabdev acquitted himself most honourably for a 14-year-old, taking five games off top seed Vikram before capitulating to his taller opponent.

Sonia justified her second-ranked billing, although stretched by the frail Rishika into a three-set duel.

The results:

Boys: Singles semifinals: Suresh Krishna bt Prateek Bhambri 6-3, 6-2; Vikram Reddy bt Rishabdev R. Raman 6-1, 6-4.

Doubles semifinals: Mansingh & Bhatia bt Dhruv & Muddappa 6-2, 6-3.

Girls: Singles semifinals: Sonia Dayal bt Rishika Sunkara 6-3, 5-7, 6-2; Prerana Bhambri bt T. Nilaya 7-5, 4-6, 6-2.

Doubles: Quarterfinals: V. Archana & Treta Bhattacharya bt Prerana & Prarthana Pratap 6-3, 6-1; Ankita Raina & Rishika Sunkara bt Inayat Khosla & Anushka Kapoor 6-2, 6-1; Prachi Nadkarni & Prerana Bhambri bt Veronika Makovey & Natasha Palha 7-6(0), 6-0; Sonia Dayal & T. Nilaya bt Arantxa Andrady & Susita Das 6-4, 6-2.

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