The Hindu : Indian juniors crash out

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Jun 02, 2003

Sport

Sport - Tennis

Indian juniors crash out

NEW DELHI JUNE 1. The challenge of the Indian juniors came unstuck on the French clay as all the three in the main draw crashed out in the first round in Paris on Sunday.

The biggest hope, Sania Mirza, was seeded 14th but was unable to get past Heidi el Tabakh of Egypt, and went down tamely 1-6, 4-6. Sania, who has won a round of singles in all the other three Grand Slam junior events, was down 1-4 in the second set before she added some respectability to the eventual score line.

Sania won a round of doubles in the last edition of the French Open, and will try her luck this time in the company of Sanaa Bhambri.

The 15-year-old Sanaa fought bravely before going down 5-7, 2-6 to local girl Marine Giraud.

Somdev Dev Varman was no exception, but he fought the best among the three, as he warded off two matchpoints on his serve in the ninth game of the decider, before bowing out 1-6, 6-3, 4-6 to the 16th seeded Leonardo Kirche of Brazil.

Karan Rastogi had earlier lost in the first round of the qualifying event.

Somdev and Karan can do some damage to a few others reputation in the doubles event. Indian hopes once again hinge on doubles.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Sport