The Hindu : Sport / Tennis : Rushmi asserts supremacy

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, May 30, 2004

Sport

Sport - Tennis

Rushmi asserts supremacy

By Kamesh Srinivasan

LUCKNOW, MAY 29. Top-seeded Rushmi Chakravarthi handled the challenge of Ankita Bhambri with assurance, saved a matchpoint, and asserted her supremacy with a 6-2, 2-6, 7-6 (10-8) triumph in the final of the $10,000 ITF women's tennis tournament at the Oudh Gymkhana Club courts here on Saturday.

It was a memorable double for Rushmi on the friendly grasscourts, as she won the doubles title in partnership with Ankita, beating the second-seeded Sai Jayalakshmy and Archana Venkataraman 6-4, 6-1.

It was the sixth singles title from 11 finals, and 17th doubles titles from 29 finals for the 26-year-old Rushmi at this level. She collected $1600 for the singles triumph, and $325 as her share for the doubles crown.

For someone who had to battle recurring pain in her playing forearm, that had seen her concede matches midway through the last tournament in Delhi, Rushmi played with resolve through this week. She had not dropped a set and hardly dropped her serve through the first four singles matches.

However, against the 17-year-old Ankita who had her limitations on grass but played with a big heart, Rushmi had to put up her best. She started in a stormy fashion, racing away with the first set, with breaks in the second, sixth and eighth games, though she herself was broken in the fifth game.

Mysteriously, Rushmi lost the tempo and the sureness of her touch in the space of five minutes, as she slipped to 0-5 in the second set, winning one point from her first three service games. Ankita served nicely to place the match on an even keel.

In the decider, after an intial exchange of breaks in the second and third games, the two raised the standard with quality fare. Rushmi revealed a tough approach as she saved three breakpoints in the 11th game. Ankita was serving at her best in the end.

The tie-break was a close affair. Ankita had the first matchpoint at 6-5 when Rushmi returned into the net, but a poor shot found the scores level. Rushmi volleyed nicely to set up her first matchpoint, and Ankita responded with a winner. Rushmi had her second matchpoint at 8-7 but again could not avail of it.

Rushmi served an ace to set up her third matchpoint, and came up with a lob under pressure to clinch the contest, that had lasted about two hours and a half.

Rushmi had four aces, four service winners, four return winners and 28 other winners, including nine volleys to speak for her game. Ankita had four aces, but only 16 other winners including two on the serve.

"I didn't play my best game, but am glad to win another title. I enjoy playing on grass,'' said Rushmi, quite pleased to project a good image of herself with a double crown, after having been played for only one match in the Fed Cup Asia-Oceania tennis tournament in Delhi recently.

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