The Hindu : Sport / Tennis : Elgins clinches title

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Dec 09, 2007
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Sport - Tennis

Elgins clinches title

Principal Correspondent

The Russian survived some tense moments in the second set

— Photo: S. Subramanium

PROUD SOUVENIR: Michail Elgin of Russia, who won the Challenger tennis tournament.

NEW DELHI: Michail Elgin overcame an impulsive Tomas Cakl to win his maiden ATP Challenger title at the SAIL Open tennis tournament here on Saturday.

The fifth seeded Russian survived some tense moments in the second set, but kept his cool throughout to beat Tomas Cakl of the Czech Republic 7-6(4), 6-7(8), 6-3 in just over two hours and 30 minutes.

Elgin received a cheque for $7200 and a crystal trophy while Cakl settled for $4240 and crystal ware.

Elgin’s single-fisted backhand returns set him apart as Cakl found it difficult to control the ball during long rallies. Though Elgin needed the tiebreak to win the first set, the Russian clearly was on top — but for the momentary loss of concentration that cost him his serve in the eighth game.

The Russian earned two breakpoints when Cakl sent a backhand crosscourt return wide in the third game. Elgin grabbed the chance and fired his trademark backhand down-the-line winner before he held his serve to go 3-1 up.

Elgin was unsettled a bit after he lost a few points when the net cord favoured Cakl. After sending down a forehand return wide and his first double fault, Elgin lost his service game in the eighth before the set went into the tiebreaker.

Cakl pounced on the opportunity and earned a mini-break, before he double faulted to hand Elgin the advantage. The Russian yet again pulled out his backhand return to win the tiebreaker 7-4.

Growing in confidence

Cakl grew in confidence as Elgin started committing unforced errors. Elgin lost his service in the seventh game but shot back soon after as the two exchanged breaks in the next two games before the second set went into the tiebreaker.

Though Elgin set the early pace, Cakl earned two set points at 6-4, but the Russian levelled before he double faulted to hand over yet another set point. Cakl wasted no time in sealing it at 8-6.

Cakl was on a high in the third set. He approached the net and volleyed returns to frustrate Elgin. But the Russian fired aces at crucial junctures to keep going. In the sixth game, Elgin sent an amazing lob to recover from the deep corner Cakl had forced him to and that just about sent the Czech into a tizzy.

Cakl lost his service in the seventh game at love, double-faulting at game point. Elgin fired his eighth ace of the match before winning the game at love. Cakl then cracked under pressure as Elgin’s slicing returns were difficult to put back before the Russian sent down a forehand passing winner to close the issue.

The results (final):

Michail Elgin (Rus) bt Tomas Cakl (Cze) 7-6(4), 6-7(8), 6-3.

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