Date:03/02/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/02/03/stories/2007020304801800.htm

Sport - Tennis

Double delight for Sai Karthik

Special Correspondent

PROUD WINNER: N. Sai Karthik of Andhra Pradesh is delighted to display his trophy. — Photo: K. Murali Kumar

BANGALORE: It was a double delight for N. Sai Karthik of Andhra Pradesh. Sai scripted a hard- fought 6-4, 1-6, 6-4 victory over the fifth seed Ronit Bisht of Delhi and claimed the boys' under-14 singles title in the Polyflex AITA National Series (under-14 & 16) junior tennis championship at the Kims courts here on Friday. He later bagged the boys' under-14 doubles title, partnering Mohit Mayur of Tamil Nadu.

Earlier en route to the singles final, Sai Karthik defeated Ronit's elder brother Rohit 3-6, 6-4, 6-4.

The victory also ensured Sai Karthik, 75 points catapulating him to the second spot in the AITA under-14 rankings.

The top seed Kaza Vinayak Sarma of AP, warded off a stiff challenge from Tamil Nadu's Irfan Hussain 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 in the under-16 singles semifinals and set up a title clash with Rishab Dev Raman of Tamil Nadu. Rishab beat Yeshwanth Nadella 6-4, 6-1.

The top seed Nova Patel stormed into the under-14 and under-16 girls' singles finals. She beat the third seed Rishika Sunkara of Delhi 6-2, 6-2 in the under-16 singles semifinals and will take on the fourth seed Nimisha Mohan of Karnataka in the final. In the under-14 singles semifinals, Nova defeated Sharon Paul of Tamil Nadu 6-2, 7-5 and will meet in the final M. Divija of AP who beat K. Natalia (Maharashtra) 6-3, 6-2.

The results:

Boys' under-14 singles final: N. Sai Karthik (AP) bt Ronit Bisht (Del) 6-4, 4-6, 6-4. Semifinals: Ronit Bisht bt J. Mohit Mayur ( TN) 6-2, 6-4; Sai Karthik bt Rohit Bisht (Del) 3-6, 6-4, 6-4. Doubles final: Mohit Mayur (TN) & Sai Karthik bt Ram Kumar (TN) & Arjun Khade (Mah) 2-6, 7-5, 10-7 (super tie-breaker).

Under-16 singles semifinals: Kaza Vinayak Sarma (AP) bt Irfan Hussain (TN) 4-6, 6-4, 6-4; Rishab Dev Raman (TN) bt Yeshwanth Nadella (AP) 6-4, 6-1.

Doubles final: Lakshith Sood & Chandra Sood bt Ritwik & Sumeet (AP) 6-4, 6-1.

Girls' under-16 singles semifinals: Nova Patel (Guj) bt Rishika Sunkara (Del) 6-2, 6-2; Nimisha Mohan (Kar) bt Ankitha Raina (Guj) 6-2, 6-3.

Under-14 singles: Nova Patel bt Sharon Paul (TN) 6-2, 7-5; M. Divija (AP) bt K. Natalia (Mah) 6-3, 6-2.