Saketh Myneni outclassed Masato Shiga of Japan 6-0, 6-1, in the final of the $10,000 ITF men’s Futures tennis tournament in Tumon, Guam, on Sunday.
It was the fourth singles title of the season for Saketh, and ninth career singles title.
In fact, he has not lost a singles match apart from the one he lost to compatriot Karunuday Singh in Bangkok, in the last five tournaments at home and away.
Quite pleased to collect 18 ATP points with his second tournament victory abroad after the one in Thailand last week, the top-seeded Saketh emphasised his approach of facing better competition in different conditions was helping him grow into a better player.
“I started well and kept my momentum throughout the match.
“Shiga was one of the smallest and quickest players in this tournament. I didn’t let him settle down, and tried to push him deep in the court. That helped me dictate,” said Saketh, when contacted by The Hindu in Guam.
Saketh kept such a strong hold over the match that he did not let his opponent win a game, till he led 3-0 in the second set when the Japanese held serve for a token game to show for his efforts.
Interestingly, Saketh beat five Japanese players in the tournament, and did not drop a set to any of them.
Except for allowing one set to be stretched to the tie-break, he did not concede more than four games in a set to any of them.
“It is never easy to beat five Japanese players away from home, because they are so physical on court.
“They play solid and make you earn every point. The hot and humid conditions were favouring them a lot. It was raining in patches and that made it worse,” pointed out the 300th ranked Saketh, the second best ranked Indian singles player on the ATP computer after Somdev Devvarman.
After two weeks of rest and training he will continue his competition cycle. — Special Correspondent
