Date:11/05/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/05/11/stories/2007051106582200.htm

Sport - Tennis

Srikar, Vinod share the spoils

Special Correspondent

CHAMPIONS: Vinod Gowda, Alla Srikar and A.K. Padmapriya, who bagged honours in the boys' under-14, boys' under-16 and girls' under-16 sections respectively. — PHOTO: M.A. SRIRAM

Mysore: Alla Srikar of Andhra Pradesh and Vinod Gowda of Karnataka, easily the two best players on view in the tournament, shared the spoils winning the boys under-16 singles title and under-14 singles title respectively in the MTA-MTC AITA Champion Series tennis tournament for juniors which concluded at the MTC courts here on Thursday.

In the u-14 singles final played in the morning top seed Vinod defeated second seed Srikar 6-4, 6-1 while Srikar avenged the defeat beating Vinod in the u-16 singles final 6-2, 6-3 later in the afternoon. Vinod was on fire in the u-14 final. After a close tussle till 4-4, he broke his rival in the ninth and took the set on his serve.

Impressive show

Vinod was particularly in a punishing mood on his forehand and hit winners at will. The hard-hitting Srikar made quite a few unforced errors while rushing his strokes. One expected a better display from him in the second set but he simply went from bad to worse and with two double faults in the second game he lost the grip and allowed Vinod to take an early lead (2-0). Vinod never looked back as he kept a torrid pace and outwit his rival to wrap up the set and tie.

A chastened Srikar later played with lot of focus in the u-16 singles final. Though there were quite a few close calls and with a couple of games going on extended deuces Srikar put his head down and played sensibly to stay on course. The pressure was very much on Vinod after he dropped the first set tamely 6-2 and he couldn't really get back into the match against a consistent Srikar.

Padmapriya triumphs

Top-seeded A.K. Padmapriya playing a consistent base-line game overpowered second-seeded Statemate Rachana R. Gowda 6-2, 6-3 to bag the girls u-16 singles title, while sixth seeded Alla Mrinalini of Andhra Pradesh beat wildcard Spurthi Shivalingiah of Karnataka 6-4, 5-7, 6-4 in a keenly contested u-14 singles final.

The results: (All finals): Boys: U-16 singles: Alla Srikar (AP) bt Vinod Gowda (Kar) 6-2, 6-3.

U-14 singles: Vinod Gowda (Kar) bt Alla Srikar (AP) 6-4, 6-1.

Girls: U-16 singles: A.K. Padmapriya (Kar) bt Rachana R. Gowda (Kar) 6-2, 6-3.

U-14 singles: Alla Mrinalini (AP) bt Spurthi Shivalingiah (Kar) 6-4, 5-7, 6-4.