Date:02/04/2003 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2003/04/02/stories/2003040201281900.htm

Sport - Tennis

Archana shocks Manisha

By Nandakumar Marar

Archana Venkataraman of India makes a backhand return against compatriot and top seed Manisha Malhotra in the first round of ITF women's Futures tennis tournament in Mumbai. — Photo: Vivek Bendre

MUMBAI APRIL 1. Fortune can sometimes play a cruel joke on chosen people. Manisha Malhotra realised this the hard way, in the process of battling an opponent with no regard for reputations. The top seed in the singles draw of the Cricket Club of India-International Tennis Federation's women's Futures lost to a qualifier, Archana Venkataraman, in the second round of the Mumbai leg on Tuesday. The difficult part for the vanquished is that the unthinkable happened after two hours, 35 minutes on court, following a vain attempt to turn the match around against a focussed opponent.

Archana's 839th ranking conceals more than it reveals about the sort of challenge she represents. The WTA computer cannot fathom the extent of raw desire in this Indian to make a mark on the women's circuit. She may have technical limitations, but is never short of hunger when it comes to winning points. The first round match saw her pitted against one of the most experienced Indian professionals, elevated from wildcard to top seed on strength of a high 337 ranking, but roles had been reversed by the time the match drew to a close on CCI courts. Manisha lost 4-6, 6-4, 5-7, her condition made worse by cramps.

The qualifier's doggedness was only to be expected. It is the favourite's capitulation, which was surprising. Archana won by keeping the ball in play, Manisha lost for trying too hard, her approach too tense for one with such abundant experience. The top seed was broken twice in the first and second sets and made too many mistakes in the decider, losing four games on serve.

Mobility became a problem for her towards close, but by then Archana's retrieving had reached such levels that a few net surges by the top seed could only prolong the contest. She now has the doubles to play for, partnering Radhika Tulpule.

Geeta Manohar and Radhika were the other Indians to finish on the right side of the scoreline, the former defeating Carly Homewood in straight sets and the latter taking a shorter route into the second round past Natalie Neri. The CCI-ITF Women's Futures is organised by Maharashtra Lawn Tennis Association under the auspices of All India Lawn Tennis Association.

The results (Indians unless specified): singles (1st round): Geeta Manohar bt Carly Homewood (Gbr) 6-1, 6-3; Ludmilla Rozsivalova (Cze) bt Yael Glitsenstein (Isr) 6-7 (4), 6-2, 6-4; Christina Obermoser (Aut) bt Liza Pereira 6-0, 6-4; Archana Venkataraman bt 1-Manisha Malhotra 6-4, 4-6, 7-5; Cheli Bargil (Isr) bt Diana Costa (Por) 6-0, 6-0; 7-Radhika Tulpule bt Natalie Neri (Gbr) 6-3, 6-0.

Doubles (1st round): M. Malhotra/R. Tulpule bt Krushmi Chheda/Vandana Murali 6-0, 6-1; Akgul Amanmuradova (Uzb)/Chin-Bee Khoo (Mal) bt Ankita Bhambri/Sonal Phadke 6-0, 6-3; Shruti Dhawan/Diana Julianto (Ina) bt Sheetal Goutham/Orawan Lamangthong (Tha) 6-1, 6-1; Sai Jayalakshmy/Rushmi Chakravarthi bt Y.Glitzenshtein (Isr)/G.Manohar 6-3, 2-6, 6-1.