Fourth seed Sumit Nagal clinched the singles title by defeating second seed Vishnu Vardhan 7-6(5), 7-6(4) in the final of the $10,000 TVS-ITF Futures tennis tournament, at the Madurai Union Club, here on Saturday.
This win capped off an excellent week for Sumit as he had earlier won the doubles title on Friday.
Sumit and Vishnu struggled to break each others serve in the first set.
There was hardly anything to choose between the players. Vishnu though served 12 aces in all. Sumit hung in despite the booming serves from Vishnu by playing an excellent baseline game.
There was no fatigue from the previous day’s doubles final as he chased down every ball across the court. But at the end of it all both players were locked at 6-6.
Digging deep In the tie-breaker, Vishnu squandered a 3-1 lead when he hit a forehand volley long. Sumit broke Vishnu back with an excellent forehand passing shot to make it 4-3. Sumit took a 6-3 lead when Vishnu hit a backhand long and a forehand found the net.
Even though Vishnu saved two set points, Sumit with a brilliant forehand crosscourt winner took the first set 7-6(5).
The second set went in the same mode. Vishnu Vardhan once again served a total of 12 aces making it 24 in the match but failed to break Sumit.
Sumit though dug deep keeping up pace with Vishnu’s serves. Sumit made Vishnu commit a few unforced errors.
Quiet a few of Vishnu’s forehand and backhand shots were either wide or long. The fact that neither player could get a single break point in the match showed the dominance of their respective service games.
In the tie-breaker it was once again Sumit who held on to his nerve. Vishnu double faulted to concede a 3-2 lead.
Sumit never looked back as his brilliant backhand and forehand passing shots gave him a 6-3 lead.
Even though Vishnu saved one match point, Sumit with a forehand winner down the line took the second set 7-6(4).
“It was a tough match. Vishnu served a lot of aces to make it difficult for me to break him. I knew that the tie-breaker will decide the match.
“My next stop is the Vietnam Open next month.” said the singles and double champion who was also the singles champion in the first leg at Chennai.
Ashok, Station Director, All India Radio, Madurai, gave away the trophy.
The result: Singles: Final: Sumit Nagal bt Vishnu Vardhan 7-6(5), 7-6(4).
