Date:19/01/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/01/19/stories/2008011954721800.htm

Sport - Tennis

Wagh in final

GURGAON: Akash Wagh stopped the fine run of Vijayant Malik with a 6-4, 7-6(3) victory in the semifinals of the ITF Grade-II junior tennis tournament at the NTA Complex here on Friday.

The margin could have been a lot more emphatic but for Wagh losing his way from 5-2 in the second set. However, Malik, the finalist last week, was unable to fight any harder in the second set tie-break; he led 3-1, but could not win another point.

Sudanwa Sitaram warded off a fighting Chandril Sood and his own indifferent form to set up a title clash with his fellow trainee at the Mahesh Bhupathi Academy in Bangalore.

Sitaram had beaten Akash in straight sets in the Grade-III tournament last week at Chandigarh, but it should be a lively match on Saturday.

In the girls’ section, Rashmi Teltumbe kept the Indian hopes alive with a well-earned 6-2, 6-7(3), 6-4 victory over Maria Meliuk of Belarus.

She will be challenged by Piven Ganna of Ukraine who has not looked back after having beaten the champion of last week, the top-seeded Nicha Lertpitaksinchai of Thailand in the first round.

The results:

Under-18 boys (semifinals): Akash Wagh bt Vijayant Malik 6-4, 7-6(3); Sudanwa Sitaram bt Chandril Sood 6-2, 2-6, 6-4. Doubles (final): Riki Maclachlan and Ben Maclachlan (Nzl) bt Ivan Kobzar (Blr) and Joachim Sternbach (Fra) 6-4, 6-0.

Under-18 girls (semifinals): Piven Ganna (Ukr) bt Margarita Lazareva (Rus) 6-1, 6-2; Rashmi Teltumbe bt Maria Meliuk (Blr) 6-2, 6-7(3), 6-4. Doubles (final): Margarita Lazareva and Anna Rapoport (Rus) bt Piven Ganna (Ukr) and Maria Meliuk (Blr) 6-2, 4-6, 6-2. — Special Correspondent