The Hindu : Akgul to fight it out with Isha Lakhani

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Nov 08, 2003

Sport

Sport - Tennis

Akgul to fight it out with Isha Lakhani

By Nandakumar Marar

Photo: Vivek Bendre

The top-seeded Czech pair Hana Sromova (left) and Gabriela Navratilova pose for the lensmen after winning the doubles title in the ITF women's circuit tournament in Mumbai on Friday.

MUMBAI Nov. 7. Akgul Amanmuradova is on her own — no sponsors to take care of tour expenses; no entourage as back up; no coach to seek guidance from. The Uzbekistan Tennis Federation pays for her entry fees into International Tennis Federation events, then leaves their huge hope to find her own resources to pick up titles and points.

This back-to-the-wall situation stokes a hunger in the Uzbekis seen in few others on the circuit, as was evident on a horribly humid Friday morning at the National Sports Club of India courts.

The eighth seed (ranked number 405 on the WTA computer) consumed Gabriela Navratilova, seeded four places above her and ranked 271th, for a surprise entry into the $ 25,000 ITF Women's Circuit singles title clash.

She will take on unseeded Isha Lakhani, another gritty fighter from Mumbai who won despite a rash of double-faults against Thai teenager Montinee Tangphong in the second semifinal.

Gabriela returned to the court later in the evening to clinch the doubles title in Hana Sromova's company, the top seeded Czech Republic pair picking up 25 WTA points and $ 600 each after a 6-1, 6-1 win over the well-settled Indian combination of Rushmi Chakravathi and Sai Jayalakshmy-Jairam. The runner-ups got 17 points and $ 350 each.

Akgul banked on a powerful serve to dislodge the Czech Republic rival, often falling back on five-time experience of Indian conditions to sustain herself when the heat affected mobility. Even a fall on the baseline late into the second set when twisting back to chase an overhead lob failed to deter the Uzbeki from single-minded pursuit of her objective.

Akgul served 12 aces in all, seven in the first set and five in the second, besides stepping up when opportunity arose to smash forehand winners for a 6-3, 6-4 victory. Gabriela, a typical baseline battler comfortable playing long rallies and opting for the backhand slice to keep the huge Uzbeki in check, struggled when her rival shifted gears.

The fourth seed was left stranded at the back when a tired Akgul opted for cheeky, net-hugging drops to return serves or shifted her huge frame forward to thump forehand winners. The first set lasted nine games with Gabriela broken once, then the latter was dropped three games on serve in the second as the match slipped out of grasp.

Isha played a subdued game, compared to the quarterfinal high against Sania Mirza, but will be in better shape for Saturday's final compared to Akgul who needed 90 minutes of action to get there.

The results (Indians unless specified):

Singles (semifinals): 8-Akgul Amanmuradova (Uzbekistan) bt 4-Gabriela Navratilova (Cze) 6-3, 6-4; Isha Lakhani bt Montinee Tangphong (Thn) 6-3, 6-2.

Doubles: Final: 1-Hana Sromova/Gabriela Navratilova (Cze) bt 2-Rushmi Chakravarthi/Sai Jayalakshmy-Jairam 6-1, 6-1. Semifinals: 1-Hana S/Gabriela N (Cze) bt 4-Sania Mirza/Suchanan Viratprasert (Thn) 6-4, 7-6 (5); 2-Rushmi C/Sai J bt 3-Akgul A (Uzb)/Chin Bee Khoo (Mal) 7-5, 6-1.

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