Niki Poonacha and Sowjanya Bavisetti asserted themselves as the No.1 seeds in winning the men’s and women’s titles in the Fenesta National tennis championship here on Saturday.
The 24-year-old Poonacha, tall and wiry, rode on his better athleticism and forceful game to beat second seed Aryan Goveas 6-2, 7-6(4), while Sowjanya beat four-time champion Prerna Bhambri 6-4, 6-2.
It was high quality entertainment for tennis enthusiasts assembled in strength.
“It is a dream for me to win the National championship,” said Poonacha.
“Niki has a big game. The national title should give him the confidence to what I have been constantly telling him that he has the game to win big,” said Rohan Bopanna, who watched the final through live streaming.
For Sowjanya, it was confirmation of her ability to stroke with intelligence and punch.
Prerna made a fight of it, twice breaking back in the first set, but Sowjanya did not let the fight linger for long. The key to the contest was winning the first set, and Sowjanya did that at 6-4, scotching the revival, after having led 5-1.
Both champions made it a point to thank physio Anand Dubey for making it possible for them to play and win. Poonacha was being treated for a lower back strain through the week, while Sowjanya had to address a sprained neck every day.
The champions collected ₹3,00,000 each and the runners-up were presented ₹2,00,000 each.
The Chairman and Managing Director of DCM Shriram group, Ajay Shriram, congratulated the champions and thanked the All India Tennis Association (AITA) and its life president Anil Khanna, for the bond spanning more than 25 years.
Madhwin Kamath and Rashmikaa Shrivalli Bhamidipaty won the junior boys’ and girls’ titles.
The results (finals):
Men: Niki Poonacha bt Aryan Goveas 6-2, 7-6(4). Women: Sowjanya Bavisetti bt Prerna Bhambri 6-4, 6-2. Under-18: Boys: Madhwin Kamath bt Udit Gogoi 6-2, 7-6(1). Girls: Rashmikaa Shrivalli Bhamidipaty bt Sandeepti Singh Rao 6-0, 6-4.
