Sport - Tennis   

Double delight for Kiernan

By Nandakumar Marar

Great Britain's Daniel Kiernan is all smiles after triumphing in the ITF Satellite Circuit tennis tourney in Mumbai on Saturday. — Photo: Vivek Bendre

MUMBAI June 7. Daniel Kiernan has been through tough 10 days in office, every match won from the qualifying stage onwards of the International Tennis Federation's Satellite Circuit first leg, forcing him to inflict more punishment on his stocky body.

Apart from helping shed some flab around the middle, the work put in last week in Mumbai has been extremely rewarding for the Briton, the high point being a 7-5, 7-6 (7-4) victory in the men's singles final against Indonesian Prima Simpatiaji on Saturday.

The night before he had teamed up with Ajay Ramaswami to clinch the doubles title as well, defeating an all-India pair of Manoj Mahadevan and Rishi Sridhar 7-6 (7-2), 6-3.

For the 23-year-old, prowling the tennis world armed with a huge serve, ample self-belief and degree in marketing, the win also brings in vital financial incentives, $812.50 for the singles triumph and an equal share in $562.50 doubles prize money.

"Winning my first Satellite title is a delightful feeling," enthused the Briton, happy to have vindicated his decision to shift from tough American and European circuit to comparatively `lesser' Satellite circuit in search of money and tennis muscle. Despite the well-fed look compared to lean, mean pros like Simpatiaji, Kiernan's hunger for recognition on the ITF circuit was evident in the manner in which he rose to the occasion against his more solid rival.

The British qualifier edged out the unseeded but the superior Indonesian on strength of his serving, asserting authority especially on the big points as in the 11th game of the final, clinching the set 7-5 with a break at love when the tie-breaker seemed imminent.

Kiernan maintained an upper-hand again in the second set, when a determined Simpatiaji refused to give up after 12 games, forcing the tie-breaker. The champion saved nine aces in all, against six double-faults (against three aces/two double-faults for the Indonesian).

There was little to separate these two finalists otherwise, the confidence of having toppled accomplished rivals in the run-up to the title clash evident.

The results (Indians unless specified): Singles final: Daniel Kiernan (Great Britain) bt Prima Simpatiaji (Indonesia) 7-5, 7-6 (7-4).

Doubles final: D.Kiernan (GBR) & Ajay Ramaswami bt Manoj Mahadevan & Rishi Sridhar 7-6 (7-2), 6-3.

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