The Hindu : Harsh Mankad wins title

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Dec 07, 2003

Sport

Sport - Tennis

Harsh Mankad wins title

By Nandakumar Marar

Harsh Mankad, the winner of the ITF Tennis Futures in Mumbai on Saturday. — Photo: Vivek Bendre

MUMBAI Dec. 6. Harsh Mankad, in control of emotions and flow of points, beat back the challenge from an anxious Jasper Smit for the second time in two weeks to clinch the singles title in $10,000 International Tennis Federation's men's Futures Mumbai leg.

The 7-6 (0), 6-3 victory on Saturday fetched the small-made Indian his first major title of 2003, along with $1,300 and 12 ATP points, more importantly put him in the right frame of mind for a forthcoming, self-financed visit to the Nick Bollettieri Academy in the United States.

Smit, gaining $ 900 and eight ATP points, too served an equal number of aces from high up there, beginning with the first big one on gamepoint in the opening game, but could not generate the momentum in the second set when his rival upped the ante, resulting in an abrupt end to a final which appeared to be heading for three sets.

Harsh stamped his class with a wristy forehand down the line pass at 5-3 up in the second set, serving for the match. The Dutch scrambled to his left to run down the volley, then realised at the last moment that he had been deceived by his rival's approach and ended up in a tangle on the baseline after an attempted change of direction.

Neither player was broken in the first set, admirable taking into account the pressure of playing a final. Harsh's game fell into place in the tie-breaker, winning 7-0. "At last I managed to win in two sets. For the last few days, I played three setters and it felt very tiring, so winning a final, with so much at stake for both, this way feels good, obviously my high point this year,'' he said. Pakistan's Aisam Qureshi extended his winning habit with the doubles title, partnering Mustafa Ghouse to win 7-6 (6), 2-6, 7-5 against Ajay Ramaswami and Sunil Kumar Sipaeya. The Paki had won the singles title at Dehradun two weeks ago, managed two titles at Delhi last week and made up for his singles disappointment in week three in the men's doubles final.

He shared $630 with Ghouse, hiked his points tally by 12 points, as against $330 per team and eight points each for the runner-up pair.

The results (all finals): Singles: 2-Harsh Mankad (Ind) bt Jasper Smit (Ned) 7-6 (0), 6-3.

Doubles: 1-Aisam Qureshi (Pak)/Mustafa Ghouse (Ind) bt 2-Ajay Ramaswami/Sunil Kumar Sipaeya (Ind) 7-6 (6), 2-6, 7-5.

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