The Hindu : Double delight for Montinee

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Jan 25, 2004

Sport

Sport - Tennis

Double delight for Montinee

By Kamesh Srinivasan

Thailand's Montinee Tangphong exults after her triumph. - Photo: S. Subramanium

NEW DELHI, JAN. 24. For the second successive week, an Indian girl lost in the final. If it was an Indonesian last week in Hyderabad, it was the Thai Montinee Tangphong who dashed the Indian hopes in the final of the $10,000 ITF women's tennis tournament at the DLTA Complex here on Saturday.

On a bright sunny day, Montinee made light of a thigh strain to beat the top-seeded Isha Lakhani 2-6, 6-2, 6-3. It was the second title for the 18-year-old Thai following a triumph in a similar tournament in Indonesia last year.

Montinee's joy was complete when she captured the doubles title later in the afternoon with compatriot Thassha Vitayaviroj, beating the Japanese combination of Satomi Kinjo and Tomoyo Takagishi 3-6, 6-0, 6-3.

Isha started well, breaking Montinee in the third game, and was quite sharp in taking the first set, despite getting broken in the fourth game. The key to Isha gaining momentum was her ability to smack a series of return winners in the first set, when she broke Montinee in the fifth and seventh games as well.

However, Isha was distinctly struggling with her painful knee, which was hampering her movements on court. In such a situation it was important for Isha to retain the flow after winning the first set. It was not to be, as Montinee played a lot more intelligently in keeping the ball away from Isha. It was thus no surprise that the Thai girl raced away with the second set, breaking Isha in the fourth and eighth games.

Into the decider, Isha fought a lot better and showed urgency in fighting for each point, running a lot harder than before. She managed to save three breakpoints in holding serve in the fourth game. Thereafter, Isha failed to hold serve in the sixth and eighth games. She did break Montinee at love in the seventh game, but the Thai served out the match in the ninth game, winding up the contest with a volley winner.

"I didn't expect to win the final. I was not at my best, but I tried my best. I was lucky to win today", said Montinee, quite modest about her triumph over Isha, who had beaten her comfortably for the loss of five games in the semifinals of the $25,000 tournament last year in Mumbai.

The singles title was worth $1600 and the runner-up collected $1000. The doubles champion collected $650 and the runner-up team won $350.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Sport

News Update

Stories in this Section

Cricket

India snatches a thrilling victory

Courage and commitment were his forte

Venkatesh shocks Marat

Erode makes the grade

Tennis

Double delight for Montinee

Debendra, Janani emerge champions

Billiards & Snooker

Sea change in Nationals on the horizon

Chess

Anand wins

Swimming

Karnataka dominates opening day

Volleyball

Chandigarh stuns Karnataka