The Hindu : Ankita bags second Masters crown

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, May 31, 2003

Sport

Sport - Tennis

Ankita bags second Masters crown

By Kamesh Srinivasan

Photo: V.V. Krishnan

HAPPY MOMENT: Ankita Bhambri, who won the ITF women's Masters title defeating Isha Lakhani, is all smiles as she displays her trophy in New Delhi on Friday.

NEW DELHI MAY 30. She is one of the best juniors in the country. The 16-year-old Ankita Bhambri enhanced her reputation yet again as she won the $5000 ITF women's circuit Masters title, for the second time, at the DLTA Complex here on Friday.

Playing with consistency and concentration, like a good student, Ankita beat the National champion, the second-seeded Isha Lakhani 6-3, 6-3 in the final in an hour and 15 minutes.

Ankita had won the Masters title in Pune in April last year, and was quite thrilled to repeat her effort. The young girl does know the knack of coming good when it matters. Sheethal Goutham is the only other player who has won two Masters titles, in the eight editions held in the country so far.

It was Isha who started well, as she broke Ankita in the third game, but local girl Ankita was not to be intimidated by anything this day, including the repeated shouts of challenge from across the net.

Keeping her cool and countering every move of her opponent with a touch of assurance, Ankita recovered that break in the fourth game, as Isha was quite erratic, especially when she approached the net for the volleys. Her groundstrokes also lacked the usual verve.

Thereafter, it was smooth sailing for Ankita, except for a brief flutter in the second game of the second set, when Ankita got broken on the second breakpoint. Of course, the only time when Ankita looked upset in the whole match was in the seventh game of the first set, when the linesman changed his call which was originally in her favour.

``Can he make two calls," Ankita asked the chair umpire, in an agitated tone. Yes, the linesman could do so, and did so promptly as he reverted a wrong call.

Recovering her composure, Ankita saved a breakpoint in that game and played a solid game thereafter, hardly conceding any point on serve, except getting broken in the second game of the second set, when she made a string of uncharacteristic errors.

Isha also helped Ankita considerably with her wayward game, and made far too many mistakes, to gift it all away, on a platter.

The 18-year-old Isha looked to be getting her grip over the proceedings with her top-spin drives, but lacked the focus to make a fight of it.

Ankita cruised home in the climax, as she wrapped up the last four games, conceding a mere three points in all.

``She played aggressive in the beginning, and that surprised me. She was going for too much, I thought. My idea was to be patient, and keep more balls in. She missed a lot," said Ankita, as she summed up the final.

``I had failed to defend a lot of points earlier in the season. These points mean a lot to me. The only problem is that I can't play many more women's tournaments this season, as I have already played seven," said Ankita, who collected five WTA points and $800.

Quite thoughtful, Ankita, who had lost in the final of the second leg at the same venue, thanked all her coaches at the presentation ceremony.

Indeed, a few coaches have worked hard to bring Ankita to the present level, and it was nice of her to acknowledge that, a rare gesture indeed.

It was the second defeat at the hands of Ankita for Isha in the circuit, and she collected four WTA points and $500.

The former national coach, Balram Singh, gave away the prizes.

The results (final): Ankita Bhambri bt Isha Lakhani 6-3, 6-3.

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