Sport - Tennis   

Ferrer survives a scare

By K. Keerthivasan

Photo: R. Ragu

Prakash Amritraj exults after beating Harsh Mankad.

CHENNAI JAN. 5. Watching David Ferrer, one wondered what was going on in his mind. The Spaniard, who had scalped players such as Andre Agassi on clay in the ATP Masters Series at Rome, looked hardly the player who could win against a legend like Agassi. The Spaniard, seeded seventh here, was literally struggling in the first set as his Spanish opponent Fernando Verdasco kept hitting winners at will. The contest looked to be easy picking for the 109th ranked Verdasco. But once Ferrer found his rhythm, he was simply unstoppable, as he coasted to a 1-6, 7-5, 6-0 in 94 minutes to enter the second round of the Tata Open tennis championship at the Nungambakkam Stadium here on Monday.

Verdasco, whose photograph is not available in the Association of Tennis Professionals website, had his moments here. He showed, though briefly, what a powerful hitter he can be of the tennis ball. With a deceptive backhand and an effective first serve, Verdasco gave no chance to Ferrer, racing away to a 5-1 lead, breaking Ferrer's serve in the second and sixth games.

Throughout the first set, Ferrer was at the receiving side, unable to adjust to the hard-hitting left-hander. Ferrer, who made his debut in all the Grand Slams last year, broke the resistance of Vardesco midway in the second set. Though Vardesco lead 2-0 and 4-2, Ferrer, with some good serves and also finding the lines at crucial points, levelled at 4.

The match was evenly poised till the eleventh game. Serving to stay in the second set, and down 15-30, Vardesco failed to reach a wonderful drop shot by Ferrer and then a volley into the net took the match to the decider.

Taking control of the situation, Ferrer blasted winners on either flanks, taking a 5-0 lead even as Verdasco committed numerous unforced errors.

"The court was fast. Not to my liking, I like to play on clay," said Ferrer, through his translator Javier Piles, whom Ferrer calls his second father.

"He is with me more than he is with his girlfriend," joked Piles.

Reaching the city only on Monday afternoon from Orlando where he was training at the Nick Bollitieri Academy, Harsh Mankad had to play his first match against Prakash Amritraj the same day. Many felt that it was not fair on the part of the organisers to have scheduled it the way it was done. The general feeling was that Harsh, being the highest ranked Indian after Prakash and Rohan Bopanna, should have been given a better deal. But Ravi Krishnan, Managing Director, India and South Asia, IMG-TWI, justified the decision saying that Harsh was informed well in advance through the All India Tennis Association, and that as a professional he had to take it in his stride. On court, Prakash came up with some wonderful stylish forehand winners and approached the net often to finish the points to complete a 6-3, 6-4 win.

Though both played an inconsistent game, Prakash was relied on an attacking game. With both holding their serves, the crucial break for Prakash came in the eighth game when Harsh pushed a forehand into the net, the 5-3 lead was just the tonic the 20-year-old son of Vijay Amritraj needed. Harsh did make a spirited comeback in the second game.

After losing a tight seventh game when he had three game points, the 24-year-old Harsh broke back in the next game with some approach volleys and clean passing shots.

But by this time, Harsh looked visibly tired while Prakash looked ready for another match!

Holding his serve in the ninth game, Prakash blew Harsh away in the tenth and finished the match on his third match point, leaving a relieved father walking away from the stands.

"I tried my best. He (Prakash) served well but I was not returning well, which is my strength. I got the call from AITA on Saturday morning (IST). It was at the last minute. But I have to thank the IMG for giving me the opportunity."

The results:

First round: Prakash Amritraj (Ind) bt Harsh Mankad (Ind) 6-3, 6-4; 7-David Ferrer (Esp) bt Fernando Verdasco (Esp) 1-6, 7-5, 6-0; Harel Levy (Isr) bt Albert Portas (Esp) 6-4, 6-2; John van Lottum (Ned) bt Galo Blanco (Esp) 7-6 (8-6), 6-3.

Final qualifying round: Julian Knowle (Aut) bt Punna Vishal (Ind) 6-2, 6-3; Noam Okun (Isr) bt Petr Luxa (Cze) 4-6, 7-6 (7-3), 6-2; Danai Udomchoke (Tha) bt Jacob Adaktusson (Swe) 6-4, 6-3; Jan Vacek (Cze) bt Zeljko Krajan (Cro) 6-2, 6-4.

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