Date:27/08/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/08/27/stories/2008082760402400.htm

Sport - Tennis

Rashmi breezes past Natasha

Sports Reporter

— Photo: R. Ragu

IN CONTROL: Rashmi Teltumbde did not have to stretch much against Natasha Palha in the second round.

Chennai: Top seed Rashmi Teltumbde of Maharshtra had an easy outing against Natasha Palha of Goa 6-2, 6-2, in the girls’ under-18 second round of the adidas-MCC Junior National tennis championship here on Tuesday.

Rashmi’s dominance upfront set the tone for a consistent display in her first match of the tournament (she was handed a first-round bye). Natasha, who had prevailed over Tamil Nadu’s Asha S. Mohan 6-4, 6-0 in the first round, struggled with her passing shots.

Room denied

Natasha was denied enough room for execution, with Rashmi forcing her further back with each shot. Backed suitably by sound defence, the first set was bagged by the top seed in quick time.

Despite Natasha’s slight show of resurgence in the second, Rashmi was comfortable enough with her returns and placement. She broke Natasha in the third game of the second set after the Goa girl mistimed her volleys.

Thereafter, Natasha tested her opponent, but found the top seed prepared to wait for mistakes. Rashmi managed a second break again in the sixth game. A forehand return from Natasha that flew wide signalled the end of the encounter.

Other results:

Girls’ under-18 first round: Teertha Iska (AP) bt Likitha Shetty (Kar) 7-5, 5-7, 6-0; Shivani Singh (Del) bt Manuela Gomes (Del) 6-2, 6-1; Preethi Srinivasan (TN) bt P.A. Sindhu Nila (TN) 6-4, 7-5; Shahin Ansari (TN) bt R. Bhavani (TN) 6-0, 6-0.

Amritha Mukherjee (WB) bt Likitha Devaraj (Kar) 6-3, 7-6(5); Janani Suresh (TN) bt Prarthana Thombre (Mah) 6-1, 6-2; Padma Priya (Kar) bt Bhoomi Parmar (Guj) 6-1, 3-6, 6-3; C. Rajeswari (TN) bt Kesika Jayabalan (Kar) 3-6, 6-4, 6-1; Nehal Sahni (Del) bt Disha Sehgal (Del) 7-5, 6-3; Bavana Suresh (AP) bt Rachita Sarda (Kar) 6-2, 6-3.

B. Sowjanya (AP) bt Sansitha Nandakumar (TN) 6-2, 6-2; Arushi Sharma (Del) bt Sai Samitha (TN) 6-2, 7-5; Nimisha Mohan (Kar) bt Nidhi Chilumula (AP) 6-4, 6-4; Nova Patel (Guj) bt Cindhana Manickavel (TN) 6-4, 6-4; Nupur A. Kaul (Mah) bt Smrithi Joon (Har) 3-6, 7-6(3), 6-2.