Date:12/09/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/09/12/stories/2008091261341800.htm

Sport - Tennis

Saurabh stuns Lakshit

Principal Correspondent

CHENNAI: One of the promising players selected for Apollo Tyres Mission 2018 Challenge to produce Grand Slam champions in 10 years, Saurabh Singh caused the biggest upset in the boys’ quarterfinals of the India Cements-ITF junior tournament at the Triangle Tennis Trust courts here on Thursday.

The 16-year-old from Delhi overcame a spirited challenge from top seed Lakshit Sood late in the third set to win 4-6, 7-5, 6-4 in two hours and 40 minutes. Saurabh will meet Shahbaaz Khan in the last four. Khan overcame Viswajit Tirumurti 6-4, 6-0.

Serving for the match in the second set at 5-4, Lakshit, the 17-year-old from Uttar Pradesh failed to close out the match.

Gaining in confidence after drawing level, Saurabh started to get more aggressive. A more consistent Saurabh ran up a 5-2 lead in the decider, but Lakshit fought back tremendously to reduce the margin to 5-4. But that was all he could do.

Aishwarya pulls out

The top seed Aishwarya Agarwal conceded her match to Sanjana Sharon Paul in a girls’ quarterfinal contest.

Sharon pocketed the first set 6-4 and was leading 3-2 in the second when Aishwarya pulled out citing a sprained (left) thigh muscle.

Second seed Sharmada Balu scripted a 6-1, 6-3 win over Vaniya Dangwal to enter the semifinals where she will take on Nimisha Mohan.

Wild card Adnya Naik defeated Nova Patel 6-4, 6-4 to set up a last four clash with Sharon. The results (all Indians): Boys (quarterfinals): Saurabh Singh bt Lakshit Sood 4-6, 7-5, 6-4; Shahbaaz Khan bt Viswajit Tirumurti 6-4, 6-0; A. Muddappa bt R. Rishab Dev 6-1, 7-5; S.V. Abhishek bt Sumeet Shinde 7-5, 6-3.

Girls (quarterfinals): Adnya Naik bt Nova Patel 6-4, 6-4; Nimisha Mohan bt Prerna Bhambri 6-4, 6-3; Sharmada Balu bt Vaniya Dangwal 6-1, 6-3; Sanjana Sharon Paul bt Aishwarya Agarwal 6-4, 3-2 (conceded).

Pre-quarterfinals: Aishwarya bt T. Neesha 7-5, 5-7, 7-5; Sharon bt V. Archana 7-5, 6-3; Nova bt Garima Vatwani 2-6, 6-4, 6-3; Adnya bt Natasha Palha 6-2, 6-2; Prerna bt Vaidehi Bhagvat 6-1, 6-0; Vaniya bt U.M. Shalaka 6-1, 6-0; Sharmada bt Smriti Joon 6-2, 6-2.