The Hindu : Sport : India books berth to Perth

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Nov 27, 2006
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India books berth to Perth

A. Joseph Antony

WELL DONE: Sania Mirza was too good for Hsuan Hwang in the Asian Hopman Cup on Sunday. - PHOTO: AFP

HYDERABAD: Buoyed by a dozen aces, five games won at love on service, and one while wresting his opponent's, Rohan Bopanna enabled victory against Chinese Taipei in the Asian Hopman Cup final and India's passage to Perth for the grand finale.

At the Sports Authority of Andhra Pradesh tennis complex on Sunday, the 26-year-old Bangalore lad was at his blistering best. "Physically I am at my peak, much better than I was before injury and surgery," he said. His serving arm made that all too obvious and Ti Chen, a hapless 3-6, 4-6 victim was at the receiving end.

"I found my rhythm after the first two games," said Bopanna.

No let-up in pace

The acutely angled deliveries pounded the Plexipave, shot past Chen and ripped into the court-side hoardings. By equally dividing the barrage between the two sets, he ensured there was no let-up in the pace. The intensity of his campaign was uniform regardless of score or situation.

On target

The Indian Oil officer showed a preference for placement on the exchanges, the cross-court returns by and large on target. Constantly advancing, his transition tennis was top class too.

With burgeoning confidence, he would on occasion let loose a thumping return of serve or pat a forehander down the line. Taking the ball on the rise, his returns were deep, putting Chen often on the back-foot. Effecting service breaks in the sixth and fifth games of the first and second set respectively, Bopanna got the better of Chen who was the highest ranked opponent in the three singles ties through the tournament.

"The match against Yuichi Sugita was the toughest in that I didn't capitalise on the chances I had," he recalled. "But that made things much easier today," said Bopanna.

Easy for Sania

Earlier, Sania Mirza subdued I-Hsuan Hwang 6-2, 6-4. "I had a fever and I wanted to finish things quickly," she said. Sizing up Hwang soon, the local lass dictated the pace most of the way, sending the former on a scramble with increasing frequency. Seven double faults notwithstanding, she kept the exchanges short.

However, being a game trier, Hwang showed some splendid retrieving skills, on one instance smacking a stunning backhand return from the baseline. But her flat and fast serves ran out of steam over time and holding games on serve proved cumbersome as she descended to defeat.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, who was the chief guest, gave away the prizes.

The results (final):

India bt Chinese Taipei 3-0 (Sania Mirza bt I-Hsuan Hwang 6-2, 6-4; Rohan Bopanna bt Ti Chen 6-3, 6-4; Bopanna / Mirza bt Chen / Hwang 6-1, conceded.).

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