Sport - Tennis

Nagraj downs Vivek to clinch title

— Photo: V. Ganesan

Proud moment: The winners S. Nagraj (left), S. Settu (centre) and S. Parekh with the chief guests C.V. Suri (COO, Sify) and Ramesh Krishnan.

Chennai: Karnataka’s S. Nagraj beat Tamil Nadu’s Vivek Reddy 7-6(3), 6-0 in the above 45 final of the Raju Vegesna-AISTA senior National-ranking veterans’ tennis tournament, at the SDAT Nungambakkam Stadium, on Saturday.

Vivek was more in control upfront, after which Nagraj made it an even contest. The net exchanges were entertaining, but it was Nagraj’s passing shots that worked best. Vivek, who was tiring, was made to work hard for winners.

Nagraj had it easy in the tie-break. He effectively utilised drop-shots and clinched the first set with solid efforts from the baseline.

Vivek struggled with his retrieving in the second, which Nagraj utilised to wrap up a well-deserved win.

S. Settu of Tamil Nadu clinched the above 55 title, beating top-seed V. Ram Mohan Rao of AP 7-6(1), 4-6, 6-4.

Maharashtra’s S. Parekh completed a double in the above 65 category, claiming both the singles and the doubles titles. He beat AP’s T. Sreedhar 6-1, 6-3, in the singles final.

Ramesh Krishnan and C.V.S. Suri, COO, Sify, were the chief guests.

The results (finals): Singles: Above 45: S. Nagraj (Kar) bt Vivek Reddy (TN) 7-6(3), 6-0.

Above 55: S. Settu (TN) bt V. Ram Mohan Rao (AP) 7-6(1), 4-6, 6-4.

Above 65: S. Parekh (Mah) bt T. Sreedhar (AP) 6-1, 6-3.

Doubles: S. Parekh (Mah) & C.B. Raju (AP) bt T. Sreedhar (AP) & T. Chengappa (AP) 6-3, 6-3.

The Krishnan Tennis Centre (Kottivakkam) will conduct the 12 edition of the Turbo Energy Markers’ tennis tournament from March 24 to 30.

Entries close on March 17. For details, call KTC at 044-24540278, 24546568.

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