Date:21/07/2002 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2002/07/21/stories/2002072104231800.htm

Sport - Tennis

Vardhan clinches title

By Our Sports Reporter

CHENNAI JULY 20. Vijay Sundar Prashanth of Tamil Nadu had the match firmly in his hands.

Serving for the match at 5-4, after frittering away a 4-1 lead, Prashanth bungled under sheer pressure to go down fighting to J. Vishnu Vardhan of Andhra Pradesh 2-6, 6-3, 6-7 (8- 10) in the boys' under-16 final of the India Pistons AITA mini/sub-junior tennis tournament held at Krishnan Tennis Centre, Kottivakkam, here on Saturday.

For the 15 year-old Vardhan of DAV Public School, Andhra Pradesh, who is coached by C.V. Nagaraj, at the School of Power Tennis, Secunderabad, this is his second South Zone title for the season and third overall.

Hitting some lovely groundstrokes from the back of the court, backed by delectable drops, the 15-year-old Tamil Nadu Academy of Tennis Excellence trainee, seemed to be on his way to his third zonal title for the year 2002-2003.

But two backhand errors from Prashanth and a lovely forehand passing shot by Vardhan in the tenth game (5-4) of the decider gave the window of opportunity for the latter to sneak into the match.

In the tie-breaker which ensued, Prashanth staved off three match points, before more unforced errors from the backcourt enabled Vardhan to clinch the match which lasted exactly for two hours.

While both the players impressed with their groundstrokes, it was the effective first serves and the intrepidness of Vardhan that stood out in the final analysis.

The last time the two met was in the AITA under-16 quarterfinal contest of the J.H. Tarapore tourney here recently, where Prashanth had lost to Vardhan in a tough three setter.

In the girls' under-16 summit clash, which stretched almost to two hours, top seed D. Aarthi of Tamil Nadu prevailed over state-mate and third seed E. Asmitha 6-4, 4-6, 7-6 (8-6).

Mr. N. Venkatramani, Managing Director, India Pistons Ltd., gave away the prizes.

The results (all finals): Boys under-16: J. Vishnu Vardhan (AP) bt Vijay Sundar Prashanth (TN) 6-2, 3-6, 7-6 (10-8); under-14: M. Jeevan (TN) bt Kaushik S. Raju (Kar) 6-1, 6-2.

Girls under-16: D. Aarthi (TN) bt E. Asmitha (TN) 6-4, 4-6, 7-6 (8-6); under-14: Madura Ranganathan (TN) bt Gayathri Krishnan (TN) 2-6, 6-2, 6-4.

Girls under-16 doubles: Afreen Jahan (AP) & E. Asmitha (TN) bt Gayathri Krishnan & Grace Hannah (TN) 3-6, 6-2, 7-6 (7-1).