Swedish qualifier Patrik Rosenholm couldn't quite enjoy his maiden victory at this level and the emotions that come with it, for the second seed Vishnu Vardhan, his opponent in the final of the KCG Verghese memorial ITF Futures tennis tournament on Saturday, conceded the match after twisting his right ankle badly in the first set.
When the incident happened, Vishnu was leading 6-5, and Patrik was serving in the 12th game with the score at deuce. “This is not the way I would have wanted to win. My first ITF men's Futures title here would obviously be memorable,” said the Swede, who had lost in the first round both in Chandigarh and Noida as a qualifier.
“In the three weeks, Chennai, for me, stands out more for my ability to withstand the humid conditions better than most players and be mentally focused,” he added.
Vishnu was philosophical in defeat.
“These things happen in tennis. It's OK. It's always tough to play in Chennai with its humid weather conditions. I would have got the tag ‘ITF Player of the Month'. I am a little bit upset that I will not get it,” said Vishnu, who had won the two earlier legs in Chandigarh and Noida.
With heavy breeze, both players found the conditions difficult to handle. Patrik took a 2-0 lead, breaking Vishnu's serve in the first game, to race to a 3-1 lead.
But Vishnu, with his serves and ground strokes getting better, caught up with the Swede.
Vishnu was playing so well from the baseline that he had as many as three set points in the 10th game on Patrik's serve, but he failed to convert any of them.
Vishnu had his fourth set point in the 12th game. Down 30-40, Patrik wrong-footed Vishnu, the Indian made an effort to change direction to his right and fell down.
He writhed in pain and after medical attention, informed the chair umpire Suprit that he couldn't continue.
Patrik took home $1,300 and 18 ATP points while Vishnu got $900 (12 points). Ashok Verghese, Director, Hindustan University, gave away the prizes.
The next ITF men's Futures begins in Manipal on May 24 followed by two legs in New Delhi.
The scores: Final : Patrik Rosenholm (Swe) bt Vishnu Vardhan (Ind) 6-5 (conceded).
