The Hindu : Sport / Tennis : Cerovic too good for Dekel

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Sunday, Oct 28, 2007
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Cerovic too good for Dekel

Special Correspondent

Vijay-Kedryuk pair bags doubles title

GULBARGA: Croatia’s Ivan Cerovic sailed past Dekel Valtzer of Israel 6-3, 6-4 in just 85 minutes, to lift the men’s singles title in the Gulbarga Open ITF Futures championship here on Saturday.

This was Cerovic’s fifth career singles title and second this year having won the Slovenia Futures in June. Cerovic also picked up $1950 as prize money, besides 24 points.

“I am happy with my game” said an elated Cerovic who was a finalist at the Futures in Bellary last week. “I am happy for Dekel too for he has been my doubles partner and roommate during the last two weeks,” added Cerovic.

Dekel failed to produce quality tennis in the final. His first serves deserted him, though he had four aces to his credit. He made far too many volleying errors.

Consistent show

On the other hand, Cerovic was consistent with his first serve. Also the whiplash backhand which was seldom used with finesse in the earlier rounds, often caught the Israeli napping in mid-court.

Cerovic, who blasted four aces in the course of the tie, twice passed Dekel down the line and then hit a superb drop-volley to ensure a fourth game break in the first set. A toilet break later, Dekel did hold his serve with two pleasing volleys but that was as far as he could get as Cerovic, serving for the set, made no mistakes.

Early break

In the second set, Cerovic gained the upper hand early breaking his rival in the very first game. Though Dekel did recover to hold his next four service games, the Croatian ran away with the set and match.

Earlier in the semifinals on Friday, Dekel stopped the Austrian giant-killer Philipp Oswald 7-6(4), 2-6, 6-3 while Cerovic made short work of Alexey Kedryuk of Kazakhstan 6-4, 6-3.

India’s Vijay Kannan and Alexey Kedryuk (Kazakhstan) bagged the doubles title and a winner’s purse of $945 with a 6-4, 3-6, 10-3 win over the Indian pair of Tushar Liberhan and Rupesh Roy.

The results: Singles (final): Ivan Cerovic (Cro) bt Dekel Valtzer 6-3, 6-4.

Semifinals: Cerovic bt Alexey Kedryuk (Kaz) 6-4, 6-3; Valtzer bt Philipp Oswald (Aut) 7-6(4), 2-6, 6-3.

Doubles (final): Vijay Kannan (Ind) / Alexey Kedryuk (Kaz) bt Tushar Liberhan / Rupesh Roy (Ind) 6-4, 3-6, 10-3.

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