Thursday, Nov 13, 2003
Thursday, Nov 13, 2003 |
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Tennis
By Nandakumar Marar
Contests of such sustained ferocity are a rarity in ITF events, where outcome of women's matches is generally determined by the quantum of negatives like unforced errors and double-faults. Isha, all angles and aggression, hit back against Shruti Dhawan's sensational shot making in an action-packed three-setter on the show court. Thassha's baseline battle with Maria Penkova on the side court was the icing on the cake for a handful of tennis enthusiasts braving the noon heat. Sonal Phadke and Megha Vakharia ensured an Indian presence in the singles quarterfinals with easy victories, while a shoulder injury forced fourth-seeded Rushmi Chakravathi's withdrawal from this $10,000 tournament, sponsored by the National Egg Co-ordination Committee. Shivering in the noon heat due to fever, a dazed Isha stuck to her attacking instincts for a 6-1, 4-6, 7-5 victory and a place in the women's quarterfinals, but may end up paying a price for Wednesday's exertions unless her body can come up with a miraculous recovery. "I don't know how I lasted so long, I just went on playing," said the left-hander, about the match which stretched to two hours, three minutes. In a repeat of the $ 25,000 final at Mumbai last week, she will face Uzbekistan strongwoman Akgul Amanmuradova next. Thassha, a Thai junior with loads of energy and endless endurance, kept on coming at fifth-seeded Maria Penkova in the longest match of the day, each point won after both players exchanged at least eight to 10 shots before the youngster won 5-7, 6-2, 6-3 in an exciting contest worthy of a bigger audience. Thassha will get her opportunity to stake a claim for fame in the quarterfinals, glam girl Sonal Phadke next in the line of fire. Isha, weakened by fever, attacked from the outset in the hope of an early finish, but eventually ended up fighting for points over two hours in a three-setter which could have gone either way. Shruti bowed out after losing focus in the closing stages of the decider. The first set was marked by furious activity at both ends, Shruti using her strong shoulders to hit powerful forehands. The Mumbai left-hander took up the challenge, feeding off the pace of returns coming over the net to clinch points with authority. The first set loss forced Shruti to change tactics, banking on the slice and lobbing high forehands to prey on Isha's impatience when engaged in rallies. The strategy worked, leading to the decider where the left-hander was at a disadvantage owing to her physical condition but showed tremendous concentration. Fortunes fluctuated as Shruti recovered from a 3-5 deficit to draw level in the 10th game, then Isha went all out to wrap up the next four. Shruti got disturbed by a let call in the 11th game on serve, the scores at 5-5 and Isha stranded at the baseline when an empty water bottle rolled onto the court. The match may have swung either way if the point did not have to be replayed, but the Chandigarh girl handed her exhausted rival a lifeline to hang on by getting broken for the fourth time in the decider. Thassha emerged stronger after a trial by fire against the fifth-seeded Bulgarian, tennis the winner in this battle between baseliners. The Thai youngster, ranked a lowly 767, can hit all day long and is capable of more upsets. Sonal Phadke, her next opponent, will spend a restless night after a comfortable straight-sets victory over Archana Venkataraman, whose ambitions came to an abrupt end after sending out top-seeded Chin-Bee Khoo. The results (Indians unless specified): Singles (pre-quarterfinals): Sonal Phadke bt Archana Venkataraman 6-4, 6-1; Thassha Vitayaviroj (Thai) bt 8-Maria Penkova (Bul) 5-7, 6-2, 6-3; Ankita Bhambri bt 4-Rushmi Chakravarthi 6-4, retired; 6-Megha Vakharia bt Parul Goswami 6-2, 6-3; 5-Chantal Coombs bt Sai Jayalakshmy-Jayaram 6-4, 6-3; 3-Karen Paterson (GBr) bt Montinee Tangphong (Thai) 6-4, 6-3; 7-Isha Lakhani bt Shruti Dhawan 6-1, 4-6, 7-5; 2-Akgul Amanmuradova (Uzb) bt Lata Assudani 6-0, 6-1. Doubles (1st round): Isha Lakhani/Liza Pereira bt Krushmi Chedda/Punam Reddy 6-0, 6-2; Sheetal Goutham/Radhika Tulpule bt 4-Chantal C./Karen P. (GBr) 6-2, 4-6, 6-3; Ankita B./Sonal P. bt 3-Shruti D./Megha V. 6-7 (7), 6-4, 6-3.
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