The fifth-seeded Shaikh Abdullah of Andhra Pradesh and fourth-seeded Prarthana Thombre of Maharashtra won the boys’ and girls’ titles at the adidas MCC National junior tennis championship here on Saturday.
Abdullah overcame the third-seeded Suraj Prabodh of Karnataka in three tough sets 7-5, 3-6, 6-2, while Prarthana’s victory over top seed Simran Kaur Sethi of Delhi was by a relatively easier 7-5, 6-3 margin.
The first set of the boys’ final was a subdued one. Suraj started on a cautious note and was broken in the very first game. Abdullah relentlessly fed balls to Suraj’s backhand and was successful in inducing errors.
He took a 5-4 lead and was serving for the set when Suraj broke back. However, Abdullah regained the advantage by breaking back immediately and went on to take the set 7-5.
He broke again early in the second and with Suraj struggling with an abdominal strain, the match was as good as over.
But, Suraj staged a remarkable comeback and took a 5-2 lead, eventually winning the set 6-3. The third set too saw both players trading early breaks.
However Abdullah’s first serves helped him surge to a 5-2 lead. He broke Suraj’s serve for one last time and won the match on his first championship point.
In the girls’ final, the first set was a closely fought one with both players seemingly more comfortable breaking each others’ serve than holding. Prarthana broke Simran’s serve at 5-6 and won the set. The second set was a more straightforward affair and she won it 6-3.
M.A. Alagappan, President, TNTA and D. Subrahmanyam, President, MCC gave away the trophies.
The results: Finals: Boys: Shaikh Abdullah (AP) bt Suraj Prabodh (Kar) 7-5, 3-6, 6-2; Girls: Prarthana Thombre (Mah) bt Simran Kaur Sethi (Del) 7-5, 6-3.
