Sonal overcomes Deepa

By Nandakumar Marar

MUMBAI, JUNE 4. Top seed Sonal Phadke overcame the scare of a first round exit by beating Deepa Chakrabarthy 2-6, 6-2, 6-0 on the opening day of the International Tennis Federation's women's Satellite Circuit at the Dr. Ranade courts on Monday. Sixth seed Megha Vakharia and eight seed Liza Pereira encountered no starting problems, both advancing into the second round after a confidence-boosting victories. Incidentally, all three winners had undergone a preparatory camp, organised by the All India Tennis Association, under Gaurav Natekar.

Phadke's struggle to assert herself from the first round itself, even against qualifiers, raises questions about her ability to make the most of her talent. The wiry Mumbai girl possesses strokes which must be the envy of her fellow competitors on the circuit - hitting the lines with a double- handed grip and moving tirelessly on the baseline.

However, the top seed went on to lose the first set against a determined Chakrabarthy who believed in lobbing the ball back into play and waiting for her rival to make mistakes.

Liza Pereira stuck to the lessons taught to her in the preparatory camp. ``Our coach has told us to think positive against an unknown opponent,'' said the 17-year-old 12th standard student from Mumbai who wrapped up the first set without dropping a game against qualifier Naina Karsolia.

``The biggest improvements have come in my backhands and service,'' said the eight seed whose momentary loss of concentration cost her a few points in the second, which she won 6-2.

``After having won the first set easily, I was watching what was going on in the adjacent courts, but once I shut out the distractions, winning was not difficult,'' said Pereira, a precocious junior who has won national titles in under-14, under- 16 and under-18 age groups, the highlight being victories in both legs of the 1997 World Youth Cup in New Delhi.

``I can still play the under-18 events, but would rather test myself in the women's events. After all, this is my last year in the age group. How long can I keep playing the under-18s.''

The strongly-built Mumbai teenager is enjoying herself in the doubles, striking up a good rapport with ITF Masters champion Sheetal Goutham.

Pereira is not in Phadke's half of the draw, but the top seed has to decide for herself how and when she will shed the under- achiever tag on the ITF circuit. She exchanged breaks with Chakrabarty twice each in the first four games, was broken again in the sixth and eighth in the first set.

The qualifier was broken thrice in the second - first, third and fifth games - as Phadke held serve to lead 5-0. Serving for the set, she dropped the sixth but squeaked through to force the decider where the limitations of Chakrabarthy's retrieving game was exposed.

The $ 5000 ITF tournament is being organised by the Maharashtra State Lawn Tennis Association, under the auspices of the AITA.

lThe results (all Indians, prefix denotes seedings): 1-Sonal Phadke bt Deepa Chakrabarthy 2-6, 6-2, 6-0; Isha Lakhani bt Riddhina Parekh 6-2, 4-6, 6-3; Lata Assudani bt Preeti Rao 6-0, 1-6, 7-5; 8-Liza Pereira bt Naina Karsolia 6-0, 6-2; 6-Megha Vakharia bt Krushmi Chedda 6-0, 6-2; Samrita Sekar bt 4-Yamini Thukkaiandi 6-2, 6-2; Tara Kanbargimath bt Anuradha Gurung 6-1, 6-4; 2-Archana Venkataraman bt Kamini Murugabhoopathy 6-3, 6-2.

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