Yuki Bhambri gave a rousing start for the day for Indian tennis and the crack combination of Sania Mirza and Saketh Myneni put the icing on the cake late in the evening, as Indian tennis ensured five medals in the Asian Games on Saturday.
Sania Mirza played brilliantly, first with Prarthana Thombare and later with Saketh Myneni to make the semifinals of women’s and mixed doubles, and thus ensure a medal each. She already has six medals in her collection from the last three Asian Games.
“It is great to be winning two medals in my fourth Asian Games. It is the first for my partners. I am very happy for them. They helped me a lot. Saketh especially has been serving bombs.
“We shouldn’t be satisfied and will try to win more matches,” said Sania who had won the mixed doubles gold with Leander Paes and the individual silver in Doha in 2006.
In the women’s doubles, Sania and Prarthana will play the second-seeded Chin Wei Chan and Su Wei Hsieh of Chinese Taipei.
In the mixed doubles, it will be Ze Zhang and Zheng Jie of China, who wriggled their way past Danai Udomchoke and Tamarine Tanasugarn 4-6, 6-2, 13-11.
Climactic drama
The 22-year-old Yuki Bhambri played close to his best in outclassing the former gold medallist of Asian Games, Danai Udomchoke of Thailand, 6-3, 6-2.
After fluent play, there was some drama in the climax as Yuki saved five breakpoints to serve out the match.
“It is great to be getting an Asian Games medal. It feels good after the low of the Davis Cup. Things are back to normal. Am looking forward to better performances,” said Yuki.
He will play the fifth-seeded Yoshihhito Nishioka of Japan who put out the second-seeded Yeu Tzuoo Wang 3-6, 6-4, 6-0.
Yuki kept his word and combined brilliantly with another Delhi boy, Divij Sharan, to ensure the men’s doubles medal.
In a match that was a lot more dramatic, Yuki and Divij prevailed over Hsin Han Lee and Yeu Tzuoo Wang of Chinese Taipei 7-5, 7-6(1).
There was no bigger test than what Sanam Singh and Saketh Myneni endured, as Ti Chen and Hsien Yin Peng of Chinese Taipei teased them no end, by saving 10 match points. But, the Indian pair converted the 11th match point to be home in straight sets.
“Am happy to be finishing both the matches in straight sets. We should have won the men’s doubles earlier. The whole team has been supporting us.
“We are getting better and the challenge of a home crowd supporting the Koreans helped us step up our game in the mixed doubles. I thank the selectors for placing their faith in me,” said Saketh.
Tiger-like
Sanam was like a tiger on court as he teased and tormented the top-seeded Yen Hsun Lu with his outstanding game, counter punching with remarkable ease and poise.
The 43rd-ranked Lu who has victories over top-10 players was forced to bring out his best game to tame Sanam 7-6(3), 6-4 in a highly-entertaining match that provided a spell-binding experience for the appreciative crowd on the centre court.
The results (quarterfinals):
Men: Singles: Yen Hsun Lu (Tpe) bt Sanam Singh 7-6(3), 6-4; Yuki Bhambri bt Danai Udomchoke (Tha) 6-3, 6-2.
Doubles: Sanam Singh & Saketh Myneni bt Ti Chen & Hsien Yin Peng (Tpe) 6-2, 7-6(10); Yuki Bhambri & Divij Sharan bt Hsin Han Lee and Yeu Tzuoo Wang (Tpe) 7-5, 7-6(1).
Women: Doubles: Sania Mirza & Prarthana Thombare bt Nicha Lertpitaksinchai & Peangtarn Plipuech (Tha) 6-1, 7-6(4).
Mixed doubles: Saketh Myneni & Sania Mirza bt Cheongeul Kim & Nalae Han (Kor) 6-3, 7-6(4).
