The Hindu : Liza, Sonal enter final in contrasting style

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, May 24, 2003

Sport

Sport - Tennis

Liza, Sonal enter final in contrasting style

By Kamesh Srinivasan

Photo: V.V. Krishnan

Sonal Phadke (left) and Ankita Bhambri who beat Sheetal Goutham and Shruti Dhawan in the doubles final on Friday.

NEW DELHI MAY 23. Hit the ball well, and do so consistently as well. That looked to be the mantra as the top-seeded Liza Pereira and Sonal Phadke delightfully hit their way into the singles final of the third leg in the $5000 ITF women's tennis circuit at the DLTA Complex here on Friday.

On a day when a good spell of rain provided a welcome relief to everyone from the heat and dust of the Capital, it was entertaining exhibition of quality game as both Liza and Sonal emphasised the need to stroke sound, rather than fall prey to the defensive trap.

Archana Venkataraman and Isha Lakhani played their brand of tennis the best they can, though the latter was far too erratic this day to be able to do justice to her fighting qualities. That was how Archana was able to stretch Liza to her wit's end, saving four match-points in a long-drawn encounter that spanned two hours and 37 minutes. Liza won 6-7 (4-7), 6-3, 7-5.

On the other hand, Isha was unable to stretch the free-stroking Sonal much, and crashed to a 4-6, 5-7 defeat in an hour and 45 minutes, after rain had intervened and delayed, what proved to be the last four games, by nearly four hours.

It was commendable on the part of Archana to have made a fight of it despite her limited arsenal. Liza had the psychological edge as she had beaten Archana last week in the semifinals of the second leg in straight sets.

Liza did stroke with her usual composure and confidence straight from the beginning under the evening sun, but after a flurry of breaks, eight to be precise, Archana made light of missing a set-point in the tenth game to sew up the set in the tie-break, in which she had taken a 5-1 lead.

Changing gears, on the slower side, Liza broke the rhythm of Archana and grabbed the second set, without facing much challenge.

Into the decider, Liza saved two breakpoints to hold serve, and broke for a 2-0 lead. However, Liza was unable to hang on to that break and one more, as Archana broke back twice to be on par.

Hitting much better than before, Liza went up 5-4 on serve, and had three matchpoints on Archana's serve, before she allowed the latter to wriggle away. Liza missed two gamepoints at 40-0 in the next game, but smacked a winner to wrest the initiative.

Archana was down 0-40 in what proved to be the last game, as Liza hit a backhand return winner inside out. Liza put a backhand into the net to miss her fourth match-point, but hit a strong forehand into the corner to clinch the issue.

"I am happy that I beat her once again, but I am not happy with the way I played", said the 19-year-old Liza, who had won the title in the second leg.

"She playd really well, and was hitting hard. It was tough for me'', added Liza, as she praised Archana for making it a lively contest.

In an all-Mumbai affair, Liza will be challenged by Sonal who had lost to her in the quarterfinals of the first leg in Indore, when she was the No.1 seed.

"She was beating me regularly earlier, but I am confident now. I only try not to be overconfident now. Sonal has also been playing well in this tournament, so it should be a good match tomorrow", observed Liza, who has lost only to the eventual champion Isha Lakhani in this circuit, and is having a nine match winning streak in singles at the moment in the Capital.

Isha could not pose much of a challenge to Sonal, whom she had beaten thrice in a row in recent times. The National champion made far too many unforced errors to give herself a decent chance to make a fight of it.

Hitting the passing shots with a relish, Sonal broke Isha decisively in the tenth game to pocket the first set, after four initial exchange of breaks.

Playing diligently and with considerable confidence, Sonal hit with punch and precision to exasperate Isha who tried her best to capitalise on her chances, but in vain. The errors eroded Isha's confidence, and blunted her game.

Isha had the best chance to force the decider when she broke Sonal in the ninth game, on resumption after the rain intervention.

However, the bright sunshine, that forced Sonal into a sleeveless Tee-shirt, failed to inspire Isha, as she dropped serve in the tenth, and bowed out meekly, failing to win a point in the twelfth.

"I tried to be aggressive and consistent at the same time", said Sonal, who has won five titles at this level, including two in the Masters.

"I am happy with my game now. I had lost to Liza after having matchpoints in Indore. Am looking forward to playing a good final", said Sonal, quite confident that she would be able to stretch her good run to its logical end.

Sonal had a lot to cheer later under the floodlights, when she partnered Ankita Bhambri to down the second-seeded Sheethal Goutham and Shruti Dhawan in straight sets.

After a keenly contested first set, in which Sonal and Ankita missed a chance to clinch the initiative in the ninth game, it was literally a washout in the second as a dispirited Shruti and Sheethal failed to put up any resistance.

Liza had won a double crown last week, and Sonal would be eyeing one this time.

It remains to be seen as to who spoils the other's party on Saturday when the final starts at 4.30 p.m., and would be telecast `live' by Doordarshan.

The results:

Singles (semifinals): Liza Pereira bt Archana Venkataraman 6-7 (4-7), 6-3, 7-5; Sonal Phadke bt Isha Lakhani 6-4, 7-5.

Doubles (final): Sonal Phadke and Ankita Bhambri bt Sheethal Goutham and Shruti Dhawan 7-6 (7-3), 6-0.

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